Vance calls out left-wing violence after FBI thwarts White House UFC drone plot
Vice President JD Vance reacts to the FBI’s disruption of an alleged explosive-drone plot targeting the White House UFC event. Vance discusses the dangers of escalating political rhetoric, the importance of federal law enforcement and expresses concern about the terror plot’s intent to target supporters. He also touches on the Iran deal and his new book, ‘Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith’, detailing his spiritual journey.
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Vice President JD Vance called out left-wing violence and urged Americans to “tone down” political vitriol during a “Fox & Friends” appearance Tuesday, reacting to a foiled multi-stage terror plot intended to target the White House UFC Freedom 250 event over the weekend.
“This is very dark stuff,” he said.
“Unfortunately… this is what happens when people turn the rhetoric up so loud that disagreeing with somebody is a cause for violence. That’s the place that we’ve come to, unfortunately, with too much of our political rhetoric.”
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Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters in the briefing room at the White House on Jan. 8, 2026. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Vance, who attended the UFC 250 event, emphasized rhetoric from Democrats, particularly those serving in Washington.
“We’ve got to tell everybody to tone it down, and I hate to say this, but it’s true… you see more political violence and violent rhetoric coming from the left than the right these days. Everybody has a role to cut this stuff out, but I think a lot of my Democratic colleagues in Washington have got to look themselves in the mirror and say, ‘Why is so much of this political violence coming from our side of the spectrum?’ Maybe they can do something different.”
Officials told Digital that the FBI and its law enforcement partners disrupted an alleged plot to use explosive-laden drones to hit buildings near the event, force a mass evacuation and steer crowds toward a pre-staged sniper team.
A “second wave” was then allegedly planned to storm the White House gate, according to officials.
Vance thanked God that authorities were ultimately able to thwart the alleged attack and prevent what he called a “terrible tragedy.”
“It goes to show why we have so much appreciation for the guys who keep us safe and for federal law enforcement, because these are the types of attacks that they’re preventing every single day,” he said.
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The UFC Freedom 250 fights took place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15 in Washington, D.C. (Jacquelyn Martin- Pool/Getty Images)
The vice president also declined to entertain speculation about 2028, including discussions that he or Secretary of State Marco Rubio could lead the Republican ticket.
“We’re all focused on the job in front of us,” he said with a smile, reacting to President Trump’s suggestion that a Vance-Rubio ticket would be “very unbeatable.”
“I think the president loves to stir the pot a little bit… but, fundamentally, I think Marco, me, the entire Cabinet, we’re just focused on doing a good job,” Vance continued.
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“If that happens, the politics will take care of itself.”
‘ Sophia Compton contributed to this report.
