Former Secret Service agents tell us that protecting the president starts with multiple layers of security already built in here at the White House complex. The Secret Service has *** layered security model that they use and have always used sort of this inner, outer, and middle perimeters. Those layers include visible security measures like fences, checkpoints, and restricted access points. But former Secret Service agent Bill Gauge says some of the Most important security measures are the ones the public never sees. There’s *** lot of very covert, I don’t want to call it undercover, but sort of plain clothes agents and officers that just sort of roam the area looking for any suspicious people, suspicious packages, suspicious vehicles. So it’s *** very robust security perimeter. *** series of recent security incidents have exposed the challenges of protecting President Trump outside of the White House. From *** shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April to the pre-presidential assassination attempts at Trump’s Florida golf course and on the campaign trail in Butler, Pennsylvania, the element of protection that is at the White House needs to be brought to wherever the president is, and that’s where the problems arise because you don’t have the infrastructure, the fences, the alarms, while the White House provides. Agents with unique security advantages, new threats continue to emerge. One of the biggest challenges in recent years drones. The technology for drones. By the time, you know, the military or private industry comes up with *** countermeasure, there’s already *** counter to that countermeasure. Former agents say that’s why the Secret Service is constantly adapting to an ever changing threat environment. The Secret Service has to be nimble and change on *** dime. Something may happen today that they may have to. Totally implement *** new practice or procedure tomorrow, so they’ve got to be creative. The White House officials tell us planning for the big event actually started last fall with multiple federal agencies working together to keep people safe. Reporting in Washington, I’m national investigative correspondent John Cardinelli.
Multiple arrests as FBI disrupts ‘planned attacks’ targeting White House UFC show, director says
Updated: 7:28 AM CDT Jun 16, 2026
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Law enforcement officials disrupted “planned attacks” meant to target the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend, and multiple people were in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday.Related video above: How the Secret Service is protecting the White House for UFC eventThe 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.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.President Donald 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.
WASHINGTON —
Law enforcement officials disrupted “planned attacks” meant to target the UFC cage-fighting show staged at the White House this past weekend, and multiple people were in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday.
Related video above: How the Secret Service is protecting the White House for UFC event
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.
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.
President Donald 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.
