FBI Disrupts Planned Drone and Gun Attack on White House UFC Event

Law enforcement officials have disrupted a planned attack targeting a UFC cage-fighting event held at the White House, according to court papers unsealed Tuesday. The multi-state investigation, coordinated by the FBI and Department of Justice, led to the arrest of five individuals from Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California on federal charges. FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the operation prevented "allegedly planned attacks" from being carried out.

According to the court documents, roughly 20 participants involved in the plot discussed using explosives-laden drones and shooting at panicked crowd members during the event on the White House South Lawn. Investigators recovered firearms from several suspects and obtained encrypted text messages in which participants shared detailed maps and aerial photographs of the area, discussed establishing a "safe house," and planned escape routes. Communications took place through platforms including TikTok and Signal, with one group called "Vanguard of the Old." However, charging documents do not reveal that law enforcement located any operational explosive drones.

Among those arrested was 19-year-old Tycen Proper from Ohio, whose mother alerted local law enforcement about his firearms purchases and online communications. According to an FBI affidavit, Proper admitted participating in the attack planning. Several other suspects or co-conspirators told authorities they did not intend to carry out violence themselves but planned to observe others. One individual said he would have attended as a protester but returned home due to vehicle malfunction.

The conspiracy was motivated by a mix of anti-government sentiment, antisemitic grievances, anger over the Trump administration's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files, and beliefs in conspiracy theories about a powerful elite. Members stated they believed the United States was headed in the wrong direction and needed to be "torn down." Law enforcement became aware of the threat on June 10, four days before the event scheduled for June 14.

Both President Trump and Vice President JD Vance stated they had not been briefed in advance of the plot. Deputy Secret Service Director Matthew Quinn indicated the investigation was continuing despite the arrests and emphasized that the Secret Service led the investigation from its beginning to maintain operational security.