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US law enforcement agencies say they disrupted an alleged plot to attack the White House during a mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump and other senior officials over the weekend, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Patel said coordinated action across multiple agencies prevented what he described as a serious security threat.
“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 stated.
He also shared a Fox News headline alleging an “explosive-drone plot targeting White House UFC event,” along with a link to the report. Fox News, citing unnamed US officials, reported that five suspects had been arrested, while investigators had identified a wider network of 23 individuals allegedly linked to the plan.
According to the report, the suspected plot involved using drones to strike buildings near the White House during the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event.
The resulting chaos was allegedly intended to trigger a mass evacuation and “steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team.” The report further claimed there was a secondary phase involving an attempted breach of the White House security perimeters.
The FBI declined to provide additional details when contacted.
The event in question, branded “UFC Freedom 250,” was held on the South Lawn of the White House in a temporary arena known as “The Claw.”
President Trump attended alongside thousands of spectators. The occasion coincided with his 80th birthday and formed part of early celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The development comes amid heightened security concerns, with Trump having previously faced multiple assassination attempts in recent years, including an incident in April involving an armed individual targeting a White House press event.
