FBI Thwarts Drone and Sniper Plot to Attack Trump at White House UFC Event

US law enforcement agencies foiled a plan to attack the White House during a mixed martial arts event attended by President Donald Trump and other senior officials over the weekend, FBI Director Kash Patel announced.

According to Agence France-Presse, Patel stated on X that "thanks to the swift action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, several individuals were arrested and planned attacks were prevented."

Patel’s post included a headline from Fox News reading, "FBI Thwarts Alleged Plot Using Explosive Drones to Target UFC Event at White House, Officials Say," and he shared a link to the report in another post.

Fox News cited unnamed US officials reporting that five people were detained, while investigators identified 23 individuals as part of a "potential network of plotters."

The network’s plan involved deploying drones to target buildings near the White House during the UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship event, aiming to trigger a large-scale evacuation that would funnel crowds toward a team of pre-positioned snipers.

The report also mentioned plans for a "second wave" of attackers to breach the White House gates.

On Sunday, Trump joined thousands of fans to watch unprecedented fighting matches held at the White House, where a temporary stage named "The Claw" was erected in the South Lawn.

The event, titled "UFC Freedom 250," coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday and marked the launch of this year’s celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence.

Trump has faced several assassination attempts in recent years, the latest occurring in April when an armed individual tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at a hotel.