White House Demands ABC News Retract Report on Iranian California Drone Threat
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has issued a forceful demand for ABC News to retract a recent report warning of a potentially imminent Iranian drone attack on California. The controversy centers on an FBI alert that was distributed to law enforcement last month, which ABC News reported on Wednesday.
Details of the FBI Alert and ABC News Report
The FBI bulletin, obtained by ABC News, stated that Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States. Specifically, the alert mentioned unspecified targets in California, contingent upon the US conducting military strikes against Iran. This report quickly generated alarming headlines about California facing a wartime threat, though initially, neither the White House nor the FBI responded to the coverage.
Now, the administration has broken its silence. Leavitt took to social media on Thursday to call for an immediate retraction, accusing ABC News of providing false information that intentionally alarmed the American public. She emphasized that the story was based on a single email sent to local law enforcement in California regarding an unverified tip. 'The email even states the tip was based on *unverified* intelligence,' Leavitt noted, highlighting that this critical disclaimer was omitted from the ABC News report.
Omission of Key Information
Leavitt pointed out that the FBI bulletin referenced in the story explicitly stated it was based on 'unverified intelligence,' a fact left out of the ABC News coverage. 'Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY? TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,' she asserted.
The FBI alert, according to a screenshot published by the bureau, begins: 'We recently acquired unverified information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland.' FBI Spokesman Ben Williamson responded to the report by noting the omission of the word 'Unverified.' Additionally, the original notice featured bright red letters indicating that the content was 'raw' information subject to revision and not intended for public or press dissemination.
California Officials Downplay the Threat
In response to the report, California officials were quick to downplay its urgency. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters on Wednesday that the alert was part of routine intelligence gathering and preparedness efforts. 'It's all-around intelligence collecting, and it's all about a posture of preparedness for the worst-case scenario,' Newsom explained. He added that such considerations are not surprising and are integral to supporting federal and local partners in anticipating potential developments.
Context of Iranian Drone Capabilities
The alert surfaced amid ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, with the Trump administration continuing its offensive against the regime. Iran has increasingly utilized drone warfare as a tool for retaliation in the Middle East. Notably, the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone has been deployed in conflicts involving Israel, Gulf nations, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These drones are cost-effective, ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 per unit, making them a cheap alternative compared to the multi-million-dollar interceptor missiles used by the US for defense.
Iran has also showcased an extensive underground network of tunnels stocked with drones and rockets, underscoring its military capabilities. However, Leavitt's statement firmly denies any existing threat to the US homeland from Iran, reiterating that the intelligence behind the reported plot was unverified from the outset.
