Law enforcement officials announced that they successfully thwarted a plot to assault the White House during a popular mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump and other high-ranking officials. FBI Director Kash Patel stated on X that, thanks to swift action by the FBI, partner agencies, and the Department of Justice working across multiple states, several suspects are in custody, and the planned attacks have been halted. His post referenced a Fox News headline reporting: “FBI disrupts alleged explosive drone plot targeting White House UFC event, officials say.”
Trump had participated in the event, which featured a temporary arena named “The Claw” set up on the South Lawn, on Sunday. According to anonymous US officials cited by Fox News, five individuals have been detained, with investigators identifying a potential network of 23 plotters who communicated via a Signal chat group. The alleged scheme involved deploying drones to strike areas near the White House during the UFC fight, causing a mass evacuation—intended to divert crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team. There were also reports of plans to breach the White House gates in a coordinated second wave.
It remains uncertain whether any concrete steps were taken toward executing the attack, as the White House is heavily protected with surveillance, fencing, checkpoints, anti-air defenses, snipers, and a dedicated quick-response team. The FBI declined to provide additional details beyond Patel’s announcement when contacted by AFP.
Attorney General Vance pointed fingers at the political left, describing the incident as a “coordinated planned terrorist plot.” The UFC event on June 14—Donald Trump’s 80th birthday—was intended to kick off this year’s celebrations marking 250 years of U.S. independence. The FBI reportedly received information about the threat on June 10.
The U.S. Secret Service highlighted the increasing number of protective intelligence operations, emphasizing the tireless efforts of their teams to investigate threats and identify those responsible. Secret Service Director Sean Curran noted that agents worked around the clock leading up to the event to ensure accountability.
Trump has been subject to multiple assassination attempts over recent years, including an incident in April when a gunman tried to breach a White House press event he was attending. Vice President JD Vance, who also attended the UFC event, told Fox News he had just learned about the thwarted plot on Tuesday morning. When asked why the FBI disclosed the foiled attack—an action not always taken for security reasons—Vance suggested it was because of the potential scale of the threat.
Vance characterized the plot as a “coordinated planned terrorist attack” and accused Democrats of fostering violence through anti-Trump rhetoric. He hinted at ongoing investigations into radical left-wing groups’ funding and coordination, though he did not specify the suspects’ identities or motivations. Vance also criticized some Democrats, suggesting a need for self-reflection about the rise in political violence within their circles.
The White House has repeatedly claimed that critics of Trump and certain media outlets are fueling the increasing political tensions in the country. Opponents argue that Trump’s often inflammatory language against opponents, immigrants, and the electoral process contributes to the hostile climate.