The UFC’s “Freedom 250” event on the White House South Lawn went off without incident last Sunday – but it came a lot closer to disaster than anyone in attendance knew at the time.
The FBI says it foiled a terrorist plot targeting the event, one that involved explosive-laden drones and a coordinated sniper ambush aimed at both attendees and President Donald Trump.
According to a Fox News report published Tuesday morning, federal agents disrupted the alleged plot in the days before the event. The plan, as described by investigators, was layered – drone strikes on nearby buildings would trigger an emergency evacuation, funneling the crowd into an area where snipers were positioned and waiting. A “second wave” of attackers would then move directly on the White House gates.
Five suspects are currently in custody. Investigators have identified 23 people as being involved in the plot.
BREAKING: The FBI says it foiled an alleged terror plot targeting Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
Five suspects are in custody after authorities say they planned a coordinated attack involving explosive-filled drones aimed at buildings near the… pic.twitter.com/kvwoBnxuGb
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 16, 2026
Secret Service Director Sean Curran addressed the operation in a statement to Fox News.
“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. 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.”
UFC president Dana White had already said he wouldn’t bring the event back to the White House – citing the cost as the main reason. It’s now clear there’s more to that calculation than the price tag.