White House Demands Retraction of ABC Report on Unverified Iran Drone Threat

Officials say FBI alert about potential attack on California was based on single unconfirmed tip, not a credible threat.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:04am

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The White House is demanding that ABC News retract a report warning that Iran sought to launch drone attacks on California, saying the story relied on a single unverified tip and overstated the threat. The dispute centers on a leaked FBI bulletin describing a scenario in which Iran could retaliate for U.S. strikes by launching drones from a vessel off the West Coast. However, officials say the bulletin was based on an unverified tip and did not represent a credible threat.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the growing role of drones in modern warfare, as well as the challenges of verifying intelligence and preventing public panic over potential threats. It also comes as Iran has increasingly relied on drone attacks across the Middle East in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The details

The White House press secretary criticized ABC News for publishing the story based on the unverified FBI bulletin, saying the network left out the fact that the tip was unconfirmed. Officials in California also sought to ease fears, emphasizing that there was no imminent danger. The dispute illustrates how relatively inexpensive drones have become a defining weapon of modern warfare, with Iran and other actors using them to overwhelm air defenses.

  • In February 2026, an FBI bulletin describing a potential Iranian drone attack on California was circulated.
  • On March 11, 2026, the White House demanded that ABC News retract its report on the unverified threat.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

White House Press Secretary who demanded that ABC News retract its report on the unverified Iranian drone threat.

Gavin Newsom

California Governor who sought to ease fears about the potential threat, stating that there was no imminent danger.

Daniel Lurie

A government or law enforcement official in California who shared a statement about the FBI report and the lack of an imminent threat.

ABC News

The news network that published the report on the unverified Iranian drone threat, which the White House is demanding be retracted.

FBI

The agency that circulated the bulletin describing a potential Iranian drone attack, which was based on an unverified tip.

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What they’re saying

“They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on unverified intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (X)

“TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did.”

— Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (X)

“While we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.”

— Gavin Newsom, California Governor (X)

What’s next

The White House has demanded that ABC News retract its report on the unverified Iranian drone threat, and it remains to be seen if the network will comply with the request.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges of verifying intelligence and preventing public panic over potential threats, especially as drones become an increasingly prominent part of modern warfare. It also underscores the need for caution and transparency when reporting on sensitive national security issues.