New: FBI Nabs Five in 23-Person Network Plotting UFC Drone Assault

On Tuesday, more information on the organizers of the thwarted attempt to attack the recent White House UFC event came to light; the scheme appears to be pushed by some unhinged people, but we might note that they can be unhinged and still be well-organized. Not so well, though, that the FBI wasn't able to scoop them up.

BREAKING: Details via federal arrest affidavit reveal that a California man named Michael Alan Thomas was one of the alleged organizers of the alleged UFC White House terror plot. Feds say he admitted he believes the U.S. government is run by elites who sacrifice and eat… pic.twitter.com/L8i1bTR9Em
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 16, 2026

The post reads:

BREAKING: Details via federal arrest affidavit reveal that a California man named Michael Alan Thomas was one of the alleged organizers of the alleged UFC White House terror plot. Feds say he admitted he believes the U.S. government is run by elites who sacrifice and eat children, had involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, and are protected by President Trump.
Investigators took screenshots of his Signal chats in which details of the plot were discussed and maps of the UFC event were shown with suggestions on where snipers should be placed. Feds also recovered rifles & ammo.
Sources tell colleague @davidspunt those in custody are American citizens and there is no foreign nexus believed to be at play.

Note: Bill Melugin later issued a correction on one point:

Correction: Phone and weapon photos are from a separate defendant, a 19-year-old Ohio man named Tycen Proper, also arrested by FBI.

According to the complaint, Proper allegedly spent 3k of his "graduation money" to purchase "lots of" ammunition, guns, extra magazines and other…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 16, 2026

RedState's own Nick Arama reported on the attempt earlier on Tuesday:

Now, a Fox News piece reports that five out of 23 suspects are in custody.

The FBI and its law enforcement partners disrupted an alleged plot targeting this weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 event in Washington, D.C., officials told Fox News Digital.
Five people were in custody as of Monday, and investigators identified 23 people as part of a potential network of plotters. The alleged plan involved using explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event, force a mass evacuation and steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team, officials said.
A "second wave" was then allegedly planned to storm the White House gate, according to officials.
The FBI first learned of the threat on June 10 and worked with partners to secure probable cause for an arrest in Cincinnati, where one suspect was taken into custody. Court documents identified the suspect as 19-year-old Tycen Proper.

This appears to be a frighteningly detailed plot by some determined people. While they didn't reckon with the FBI catching them, if this had come off...

Details are still pending, but this appears to have been a complex plan using a squad-sized element of attackers with multiple waves of assault. This isn't a nut in a hedge with a cheap Chinese rifle; it's even more bothersome than a kid with a rifle on a rooftop managing to get a shot off. If this had actually happened, the numbers of people involved in the planned attack and the technology they were reportedly planning to employ, in that large, crowded venue, may well have been able to get a blow in at the president himself.

That's well past unsettling.

The FBI reportedly learned of the plans from the plotters' Signal chats:

Investigators later uncovered Signal chats in which multiple people allegedly discussed attacking the UFC event. An initial review of one suspect’s iPhone identified at least 23 Signal users discussing pre-operational activity, officials said.
Some of those involved allegedly planned to travel to Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 12 or 13 to prepare for the attack.
One suspect allegedly told investigators the goal was to target "capitalist elites," "billionaires" or politicians who received donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

So, this attempt would seem to be driven by Trump Derangement Syndrome, with a healthy dose of antisemitism thrown in.

This remains a developing story. Stay tuned.

Editor's Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject its globalist agenda.

Help us continue exposing Democrats' plans to lead America down a dangerous path. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.