Eight people have been indicted on terrorism charges in connection with a thwarted plot to assassinate government officials and high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Elon Musk, at the UFC Freedom 250 event held on the South Lawn of the White House last month.

The two-count indictment, handed down in Ohio, alleges the suspects conspired to provide material support to terrorists, conspired to commit murder on federal territory, and conspired to murder federal government officials, according to the Justice Department.

Law enforcement first became aware of the threat on June 10, four days before the event on June 15, 2026. Seven suspects were arrested shortly thereafter across various locations in the United States. The eighth suspect, who was allegedly assigned the role of sniper during the planned attack, was apprehended by the FBI in West Virginia this week.

Authorities noted that the group held fringe anti-government conspiracy theories and expressed a desire to carry out the attack. Despite the alleged terror plot, the UFC Freedom 250 event proceeded as scheduled, with President Trump and UFC President Dana White attending.

Sources