The FBI says it thwarted a plot to attack the White House during a crowded mixed martial arts event on Sunday — the same night President Donald Trump turned 80.
Five people have been arrested, and investigators have identified 23 suspects in what they call a "potential network of plotters." They communicated in a Signal group chat.
The alleged plan: detonate explosive-laden drones over the temporary UFC arena on the South Lawn, then have snipers open fire on "high value targets" in the crowd.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the foiled plot on X on Tuesday, saying, "Multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold."
One of those arrested is Tycen Proper, 19, of Ohio. He was taken into custody on June 10 after his mother alerted police that he'd been communicating online with a group that "expressed ultra-religious and anti-government sentiments," according to a criminal complaint.
Proper was found with an AR-style rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The complaint says the attack was meant to "'jumpstart' a revolution in the United States."
The event — called "UFC Freedom 250" — was held on the White House South Lawn, where a temporary arena dubbed "The Claw" was erected. It kicked off festivities for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence and doubled as Trump's 80th birthday party.
Trump has faced several assassination attempts in recent years. The most recent was in April, when a gunman tried to storm a White House press gala he was attending.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran said on X that agents worked "around the clock" in the days leading up to the event to identify and arrest those responsible.
Vice President JD Vance, who also attended the fights, said he only learned about the alleged plot on Tuesday morning during a Fox News appearance. He described it as a "coordinated planned terrorist plot" and pointed to the "scale of the planned attack" as the reason the FBI made the foiled plot public — something it doesn't always do.
Vance then turned the story toward Democrats, accusing them of fomenting violence with anti-Trump rhetoric. "Everybody has a role to cut this stuff out, but I think a lot of my Democratic colleagues in Washington have got to look themselves in the mirror and say, 'why is so much of this political violence coming from our side of the spectrum?'" he said.
The White House has repeatedly blamed Trump critics and the media for rising political tension. Trump's opponents say his own inflammatory rhetoric against opponents, immigrants, and the election system is responsible.
The investigation is ongoing. The FBI is still looking into the 23 identified individuals in the potential network.