FBI says it thwarted plot targeting White House UFC event

The FBI disclosed that a coordinated investigation led to the arrest of multiple individuals suspected of planning attacks on the UFC America 250 event scheduled for Sunday at the White House. According to FBI Director Kash Patel’s post on X, law-enforcement partners became aware of the threat on June 10 and, with the Department of Justice, stopped the alleged plot before it could be carried out.

Patel’s statement referenced a Fox News report that said the group intended to launch explosive drones at nearby buildings and crowds, employ a sniper team, and later attempt to breach the White House gate. NBC News has not independently verified those details, but a senior law-enforcement official described the plot as “quite serious.”

Vice President JD Vance told Fox and Friends that the FBI’s public notice reflected the significance of the planned attack, adding he had only learned of the foiled plot that morning. President Donald Trump, when asked at the G7 summit in France, said he had not heard about the incident.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed close cooperation with the FBI, noting that agents and technical teams worked “around the clock” to identify those responsible and pursue accountability through the justice system. Formal details of the investigation are expected to emerge in court filings.

Law-enforcement presence around the White House was heightened over the weekend, with roads blocked, fencing erected, and hundreds of federal, state and local officers deployed to manage crowds numbering in the thousands. Motives for the alleged planners have not been disclosed.

The announcement comes amid a series of recent incidents involving political violence, including a 2023 breach of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner security checkpoint and two 2024 attempts on former President Donald Trump’s life.