FBI's Patel announces multiple arrests connected to 'planned attacks' targeting White House UFC show

By — Eric Tucker, Associated Press Eric Tucker, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/fbis-patel-announces-multiple-arrests-connected-to-planned-attacks-targeting-white-house-ufc-show Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter FBI's Patel announces multiple arrests connected to 'planned attacks' targeting White House UFC show Nation Jun 16, 2026 9:46 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Law enforcement officials disrupted "planned attacks" meant to target the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend for President Donald Trump's birthday, and multiple people were in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday. READ MORE: Trump celebrates 80th birthday with Iran deal ahead of UFC fights on White House South Lawn The nature of the potential threat was not immediately disclosed, with additional details expected to be released once charges are unsealed later Tuesday. Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri and California, said a law enforcement official familiar with the matter. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss information that was not yet public. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The FBI learned about the possible threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza on the White House's South Lawn, "and thanks to the rapid action of the 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 in a post on X on Tuesday morning. The Secret Service "worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable," Director Sean Curran said in a separate statement. WATCH: A sneak peek of UFC's Octagon at the White House Trump, who celebrated his 80th birthday at the UFC event on Sunday, sought to tie the fights to larger celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Évian-les-Bains, France, where he was attending the Group of Seven summit, Trump said he had not been briefed on the thwarted plot. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Évian-les-Bains, France, contributed to this report. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now