Law enforcement officials disrupted a planned attack targeting the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House last weekend, according to court papers unsealed Tuesday that say plotters discussed flying explosives-laden drones and shooting panicked crowd members as they fled.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced multiple arrests in what he described as stopped attacks. "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 Tuesday.
Five people were arrested from states including Ohio, Missouri and California, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. FBI agents learned about the possible threat on June 10, four days before the mixed martial arts extravaganza held on the White House's South Lawn.
Among those arrested was Tycen Proper, a 19-year-old Ohio man whose mother contacted local law enforcement with concerns about his firearms purchases and online communications, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case. Proper faces charges including firearms offenses and attempted murder of an officer or employee of the United States. He made an initial court appearance Monday in Columbus.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican officials praised the FBI's swift action in disrupting the plot before it could be carried out. "The quick work of law enforcement prevented what could have been a catastrophic attack targeting the President and countless Americans," said one Republican congressional aide familiar with the matter.
Conservative commentators framed the arrests as evidence of persistent threats facing the nation. The case drew particular attention given its alleged goal to "jumpstart" a revolution, in Proper's words to authorities, and discussions about targeting specific lawmakers based on their support for Israel.
Trump, speaking to reporters Tuesday in Évian-les-Bains, France, where he was attending the Group of Seven summit, said he had not been briefed on the thwarted plot. The President described his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein as having ended "many years ago" before the disgraced financier's crimes became known. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers emphasized the need for continued vigilance regarding domestic security threats following the arrests. The case highlights ongoing concerns about extremist groups organizing online, particularly through encrypted messaging platforms. Congressional Democrats have long advocated for increased funding and resources to monitor potential domestic terrorism plots while protecting civil liberties.
The affidavit details how group members believed the United States "needed to be torn down so that it could be rebuilt." Some expressed desires that people associated with Jeffrey Epstein should not govern the country, according to court documents. Critics from the left argue this case underscores the importance of information sharing between social media companies and law enforcement.
Additionally, some Democratic voices have questioned whether security protocols adequately screened attendees at high-profile White House events given the scale of Saturday's UFC spectacle featuring President Trump's 80th birthday celebration on the South Lawn.
What the Numbers Show
The FBI obtained encrypted text messages between approximately 20 participants who shared detailed maps of the White House grounds and discussed need for a safe house and escape routes, according to court documents.
Authorities say communications occurred primarily through Signal, an end-to-end encryption messaging service, involving a primary chat of "approximately 19 individuals" and smaller side chats. The group began communicating last March through a TikTok group called "Vanguard of the Old."
Messages from Proper's phone show he discussed targeting several lawmakers due to their support for Israel, according to the affidavit. The plan allegedly called for drones detonated over the north side of the White House, prompting evacuation into line of fire of waiting snipers.
The Bottom Line
The arrests represent a significant disruption of what authorities describe as a serious plot against high-profile government property and personnel. Proper is scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday in Columbus.
Court documents remain largely unsealed, with many details redacted or still under seal as of Tuesday evening. Law enforcement officials have not disclosed the full identity of all five arrested individuals or whether additional arrests are expected.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in coordination with the Justice Department's National Security Division. An assistant federal public defender assigned to represent Proper did not immediately return messages seeking comment.