Federal authorities say they stopped a chilling alleged attack plot aimed at President Donald Trump’s high-profile UFC event at the White House, where thousands gathered over the weekend for what was billed as part spectacle, part political celebration.
According to officials cited by Fox News Digital, five people were in custody as of Monday after the FBI and its law enforcement partners disrupted what investigators described as a dangerous, multi-state plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C.
Investigators reportedly identified 23 people as part of a possible network connected to the alleged scheme.
The alleged plan, as described by officials, was horrifying. Authorities said suspects discussed using drones loaded with explosives to strike buildings near the event, spark a mass evacuation, and then push frightened crowds toward a pre-positioned sniper team.
A second phase of the alleged plot reportedly involved storming the White House gate.
The FBI first learned of the threat on June 10, just days before the event. Agents later secured probable cause for an arrest in Cincinnati, where one suspect was taken into custody.
From there, investigators allegedly uncovered Signal chats showing multiple people discussing an attack on the UFC event. Officials said an initial review of one suspect’s iPhone revealed at least 23 Signal users allegedly talking about pre-operational activity.
Some of those involved allegedly planned to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13 to prepare for the attack.
According to the report, one suspect allegedly told investigators the intended targets were “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” or politicians who had received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The case reportedly stretched across at least 12 FBI field offices, underscoring the scale of the investigation and the seriousness with which federal officials treated the threat.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised agents, the Justice Department, and law enforcement partners for moving quickly to stop the alleged plot before it could unfold.
“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 in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The alleged plot targeted UFC Freedom 250, a major White House event held on the South Lawn as part of Trump’s 80th birthday weekend.
The event drew an estimated 4,300 attendees, including about 1,200 active-duty service members. Fourteen fighters competed inside a wire-mesh cage Sunday night in a spectacle that blurred the line between sports, politics, and presidential showmanship.
While Trump allies celebrated the event as a historic display of American strength and patriotism, critics have questioned the optics of turning the White House grounds into the backdrop for a cage-fighting event during a moment of intense political division.
Now, the alleged plot has added a darker layer to the already controversial gathering.
The disruption comes as federal officials remain on high alert over threats and security incidents involving Trump and senior administration figures. The alleged scheme is likely to fuel renewed concern about the country’s worsening political climate and the growing danger of violence surrounding major public events.
No injuries were reported, and the event went forward Sunday night under heavy security.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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