Fireworks during the UFC Freedom 250 match on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, early Monday morning, June 15, 2026.
Saul Robb | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The FBI has thwarted an alleged conspiracy targeting the UFC cagefight event at the White House on Sunday, FBI Director Kash Patel said Tuesday.
“On June 10, the FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. by individuals outside of the National Capital Region,” Patel wrote in a post on X.
Patel said the FBI, Justice Department and other law enforcement partners acted quickly in a multistate operation that detained “multiple individuals” and thwarted the “alleged planned attack” before it could be carried out.
The FBI director did not identify those arrested, explain the motive, or provide details about the alleged conspiracy.
Patel reported in a Fox News article that the plan was to use explosive-laden drones to attack buildings near the event venue, then snipers would open fire on crowds fleeing the area while others attempted to storm the White House gates. CNBC has not independently confirmed these details.
Asked about the conspiracy allegations at a Group of Seven summit meeting in France on Tuesday, President Trump said: “I haven’t heard about it.”
“What I saw was a fighter jet attack,” he added.
An FBI spokesperson referred CNBC to Patel’s post. The Justice Department declined to comment.
“President Trump and the entire administration are grateful to the FBI (and) Secret Service, and all the heroic law enforcement members who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Thanks to their efforts, UFC Freedom 250 will be remembered as one of the greatest sporting events in history,” White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt posted on X.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement regarding X that the agency “worked closely with the FBI throughout this investigation.”
“In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify and hold those responsible accountable,” Curran wrote.
Curran said formal Secret Service comment on the details of the alleged conspiracy would be available through court filings.
U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, and guests in the Octagon during the UFC Freedom 250 fight on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., early Monday morning, June 15, 2026.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The UFC event drew thousands of people to the White House complex and a huge law enforcement presence in and around the area. Roads near the White House were closed, fencing was used to control crowds, and federal, state and local law enforcement officers were stationed around the event.
The conspiracy allegations add to the security threat and political violence surrounding Trump, elected officials, and high-profile public events.
In April, a man armed with a gun and a knife allegedly ran through a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. He later pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate the president.
President Trump also faced two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. The first was in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the second was at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida.
UFC President and CEO Dana White is scheduled to appear on CNBC later Tuesday. This article will be updated when he comments on the alleged plot and security around the event at the White House.
