The FBI reportedly thwarted a drone attack targeting the UFC Freedom 250 event hosted June 14 by President Donald Trump at the White House, officials said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initially learned of the alleged threat on June 10 and apprehended one suspect in Cincinnati, Ohio, according to Fox News Digital. Following the arrest, the bureau discovered a Signal chat in which 23 people allegedly discussed the attack. The group planned to use explosive-laden drones to attack buildings close to the event, compel the crowd to evacuate, and push them toward a sniper team, officials claimed. The group also allegedly intended to storm the White House gate in a “second wave.” FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the alleged plot in a post Tuesday on X.

Multiple suspects intended to go to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 and 13 to prepare for the attack, according to officials. The FBI arrested five people in connection with the alleged attack Monday. At least 12 FBI field offices were involved in the investigation, Fox News Digital reported.

A suspect allegedly told law enforcement the attack was intended to be aimed at “capitalist elites,” “billionaires,” or politicians who obtained American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) donations, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Authorities Haul UFC Champ Sean Strickland Out Of UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest)

On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of… pic.twitter.com/PbWkIk1Lr5

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) June 16, 2026

Patel also said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies learned of the alleged attack June 10. “On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region – and 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 on X.

“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team – we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens – particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted,” he continued.

Secret Service Director Sean Curran issued a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Curran said. “Equally important to our protective mission is ensuring accountability through the justice system. To that end, our formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made through court filings.”

An estimated 4,300 people, including 1,200 active-duty military service members, attended the UFC Freedom 250 event, the outlet reported. The event, which took around 19 months of preparation, coincided with Trump turning 80 years old, according to CNN.

A spokesperson for the FBI directed the Daily Caller to Patel’s X post when asked to comment on the alleged attack.