The United States Department of Justice announced on Monday the arrest of two additional suspects in connection with an alleged conspiracy to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House on 14 June, President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. William Lee Falkner, detained in Washington state, and Jordan W. Rincker, arrested in Missouri, face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, bringing the total number of defendants to seven. According to federal prosecutors, the plot envisaged flying explosive-laden drones over the South Lawn cage-fight venue to trigger a mass evacuation, after which concealed snipers would fire on government officials and other high-value targets in the fleeing crowd. Court documents allege that Falkner discussed drone tactics and the kill radius of artillery shells, while Rincker is accused of agreeing to manufacture drone components, providing a pump-action shotgun, and wiring money to a co-conspirator.

Statements from the Justice Department and the FBI stressed that the plot was disrupted before any attack could be carried out. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said law enforcement had moved to “disrupt and hold accountable those allegedly plotting to do harm,” and FBI Director Kash Patel credited interagency cooperation across multiple states. The investigation was triggered after the mother of an Ohio suspect, 19-year-old Tycen Proper, alerted police to his recent firearms purchases and online activity. Encrypted messages reviewed by investigators show the group discussed avoiding a left-right framing for the killings, though some messages referenced Trump directly. Russian state media reported the arrests, noting that the alleged organiser was a Mexican migrant, Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, and characterising the plot as the latest in a series of assassination attempts against Trump.

The event itself has become a flashpoint in a wider contest over the meaning of America’s 250th anniversary. The White House cage fight, attended by 4,000 invited guests including business leaders, was part of a series of celebrations that, viewed from Washington, have drawn criticism for politicising a national milestone. Trump cancelled the traditional bipartisan Independence Day concert on the National Mall in favour of a “Make America Great Again” rally, and has championed a triumphal arch and a proposed $250 bill bearing his likeness. Academic observers in the US capital, quoted by international media, argue that the president is personalising a civic ideal in a manner that runs counter to the founding rejection of monarchy. At the same time, a Gallup poll commissioned by the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream found that only 46 percent of Americans now agree that everyone has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream, down from 51 percent in 2024. Commentators in the US attribute the decline in part to progressive politicians such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who have labelled the dream a “nightmare” rigged by billionaires.

The FBI affidavit indicates that approximately 20 individuals participated in encrypted chats, and investigators seized high-powered weapons and a journal listing 46 names of celebrities and politicians. It remains unclear whether the group had acquired all the necessary equipment before authorities intervened. Rincker told investigators he never intended to use a 3D printer for drone parts, while Falkner allegedly messaged a co-conspirator that his “work trip is cancelled” after news of the initial arrests broke. Prosecutors say the group also discussed targeting the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. The two new defendants have made initial court appearances but have not yet entered pleas; further proceedings are expected in the coming weeks as the broader anniversary programme continues under heightened security.