FBI says disrupted attack plot on White House fight night
US President Donald Trump stands in The Octagon at the conclusion of the “UFC Freedom 250” mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, in the early morning hours of June 15, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP)
nUS law enforcement disrupted a plot to attack the White House during a mixed martial arts event attended by US President Donald Trump and other top officials over the weekend, FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday.
n“Thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” Patel said on X.
nHis post included a caption of a Fox News headline reading: “FBI disrupts alleged explosive-drone plot targeting White House UFC event, officials say,” and he shared a link to the article in a separate post.
nFox News reported that five people had been taken into custody, according to unnamed US officials, with investigators identifying 23 people in a “potential network of plotters.”
nThe plan involved using drones to hit buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contest and prompt a mass evacuation that would “steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team,” Fox News said.
nThere were also plans to storm the White House gates with a “second wave,” the report said.
nAsked for further details about Patel’s post, the FBI told AFP “we have nothing to add to the post at this time.”
nTrump on Sunday joined thousands of fans at the unprecedented White House fights, where a temporary arena dubbed “The Claw” was erected on the South Lawn.
nThe “UFC Freedom 250” event — which also fell on Trump’s 80th birthday — was meant to kick off this year’s festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence.
nTrump has faced several assassination attempts in recent years, most recently when a gunman attempted to storm a White House press gala in April.
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