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President Donald Trump will deliver his first official State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night before a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, as viewers watch for viral moments and headline-grabbing exchanges like those that have defined past speeches.

Here are the top five moments from past State of the Union addresses.

It's become commonplace in recent years for presidents to acknowledge guests in the audience during SotU addresses, but President Ronald Reagan’s 1982 address was the first time the practice was rolled out. 

Reagan’s speech came just weeks after Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into Washington’s 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River shortly after taking off in an accident that killed 78 people. 

NANCY PELOSI SAYS SHE HAD 'NO INTENTION' OF TEARING UP TRUMP'S 2020 STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH

Three people survived the crash thanks to civilians on the ground who rushed to their aid, including Congressional Budget Office assistant Lenny Skutnik, who stripped off his shoes and clothes and dove into the frigid waters.

Reagan honored Skutnik in his speech, which made honoring people in the crowd a common theme in the years to come. 

"Just two weeks ago, in the midst of a terrible tragedy on the Potomac, we saw again the spirit of American heroism at its finest — the heroism of dedicated rescue workers saving crash victims from icy waters," Reagan said. "And we saw the heroism of one of our young government employees, Lenny Skutnik, who, when he saw a woman lose her grip on the helicopter line, dived into the water and dragged her to safety."

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparked a social media firestorm and cemented herself in State of the Union infamy in February 2020 when she stood up and tore Trump’s speech into pieces after he had finished.

When Fox News asked Pelosi afterward why she did it, she responded, "Because it was the courteous thing to do considering the alternatives." She added, "I tore it up. I was trying to find one page with truth on it. I couldn't."

Pelosi’s outburst came on the heels of Trump’s first impeachment trial, which ended in a Senate acquittal the day after the speech.

"Speaker Pelosi just ripped up: One of our last surviving Tuskegee Airmen. The survival of a child born at 21 weeks. The mourning families of Rocky Jones and Kayla Mueller. A service member's reunion with his family. That's her legacy," the White House tweeted after Pelosi tore up the speech, referencing individuals who Trump mentioned during his address.

One of the most remembered moments from a State of the Union address came in 2009 when South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson interrupted President Barack Obama’s address, which at the time was far less common than it later became. 

HOW TO WATCH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 2026 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO CONGRESS LIVE

"There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants," Obama said, talking about his controversial Obamacare plan. "This, too, is false. The reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally."

"You lie!" Wilson shouted from his seat on the Republican side of the chamber, causing widespread yelling from other members in the audience.

Wilson later apologized to Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. 

"This evening, I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill," Wilson said in a written statement. "While I disagree with the president's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility."

"You put them in, 13 of them," GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert shouted at Biden as he talked about Afghanistan veterans who ended up in caskets due to exposure to toxic burn pits. Boebert was referencing the 13 U.S. service members killed during Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. 

Boebert was wearing an outfit that said "Drill Baby Drill" in opposition to Biden’s energy policies and her outburst drew some boos from the audience.

At another point, Boebert and Greene started chanting "build the wall" when Biden was talking about immigration. 

"Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage — I get it — unless I agree to their economic plans," Biden said to Congress, prompting a shake of the head from then-GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the background and shouts from the crowd and shots of other Republicans shaking their heads. 

"Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans, some Republicans, want Medicare and Social Security to sunset," Biden continued, which caused an even more pronounced shake of the head from McCarthy, who mouthed "no" as Republicans continued to jeer. 

"I’m not saying it’s the majority," Biden continued, which resulted in even more boos from the raucous crowd. 

"Let me give you — anybody who doubts it, contact my office. I’ll give you a copy — I’ll give you a copy of the proposal," Biden continued to say over increasingly louder shouting from the crowd. 

"That means Congress doesn’t vote — I’m glad to see — no, I tell you, I enjoy conversion," Biden said, apparently meaning to say "conversation."

Biden’s speech continued to devolve from there as Republican outrage interrupted him on multiple occasions. 

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry beginning Sunday as a partial government shutdown continues.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday blamed Democrats for shutting down the government, saying they were causing "serious real world consequences."

"This is the third time that Democrat politicians have shut down this department during the 119th Congress," Noem said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "Shutdowns have serious real world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but it endangers our national security."

The suspension of the programs, which allow some travelers to quickly get through airport security, was first reported by The Washington Post, which noted the changes would begin Sunday at 6 a.m. EST.

DHS FUNDING BILL FAILS AFTER SCHUMER REJECTS TRUMP’S ICE REFORM OFFER

Noem said the department was making "tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians."

She said TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would be "prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts." The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she added, will halt all non-disaster-related response to prioritize disasters.

Noem noted the suspension comes as a major storm is expected to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

NOEM SLAMS DEMS BLOCKING DHS FUNDING BILL CITING TSA, FEMA, COAST GUARD: 'I HOPE THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES'

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, criticized the Trump administration for "idiotically" shutting down the programs "to punish the American people."

"This is Trump and Kristi Noem purposely punishing the American people and using them as pawns for their sadistic political games," he said in a statement. "TSA PreCheck and Global Entry REDUCE airport lines and ease the burden on DHS staff who are working without pay because of Trump's abuse of the Department and killing of American citizens."

He called on the administration to immediately reverse the decision.

The third government shutdown in under half a year began on Feb. 14 after Democrats and Republicans were at an impasse on reaching a deal regarding President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

DHS was the only department left without federal funding after Democrats walked away from a bipartisan plan released last month in response to the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal law enforcement agents in Minneapolis during anti-ICE demonstrations.

DHS is the third-largest Cabinet agency with nearly 272,000 employees. Roughly 90% of DHS workers were expected to continue working, many without pay, according to the department’s Sept. 2025 government shutdown plan.

DHS has jurisdiction over numerous agencies and offices, including CBP, TSA, FEMA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind and Alex Miller contributed to this report.

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Surveillance video and images of a suspect accused of vandalizing the Trump-Kennedy Center’s outdoor ice rink were released Saturday as federal authorities investigate what officials described as a "targeted attack."

Trump-Kennedy Center President and Ambassador Richard Grenell shared the footage on social media and urged the public to help identify the suspect.

"Help us find this terrorist suspect who attacked the Trump Kennedy Center," he wrote.

He added: "Notice his shoes and his umbrella."

TRUMP–KENNEDY CENTER DETAILS MASSIVE REPAIRS, WARNS VENUE WON’T SURVIVE WITHOUT FIXES

U.S. Park Police have obtained video footage, recovered what officials described as a toxic chemical container for DNA processing, and are reviewing cellphone tower data. Investigators are also canvassing nearby cameras, including Metro bus footage showing the suspect. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

The Trump-Kennedy Center previously described the incident as a "calculated, malicious attack."

Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Trump-Kennedy Center, said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Friday: "Today, a targeted attack on the Trump Kennedy Center vandalized and destroyed our outdoor arena, causing severe damage that we unfortunately must cancel tonight’s performance, but we are working feverishly to complete repairs so programming can resume tomorrow."

TRUMP'S NAME ADDED TO KENNEDY CENTER FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS BOARD VOTE TO RENAME HISTORIC BUILDING

She added: "We have turned over video footage to the authorities who are investigating this calculated, malicious attack and hold those responsible accountable."

Officials said a brown-black substance was poured across the ice surface and that a gallon-sized container was left behind. Leadership described the substance as "toxic." The exact chemical has not been publicly identified.

The Trump-Kennedy Center confirmed to Fox News Digital that U.S. Park Police are investigating and surveillance video was also offered to the FBI for review.

BOARD VOTES KENNEDY CENTER TO BE RENAMED 'TRUMP-KENNEDY CENTER,' LEAVITT SAYS

Daravi later said authorities recovered the chemical container and are reviewing digital and cellphone data as part of the probe.

In a separate post linking to Fox News Digital's exclusive reporting on the incident, Grenell wrote:

"This is so sad & unnecessary— @TheDemocrats have been calling artists urging them to cancel and attacking the Center non-stop. It’s a calculated campaign. And now they have mentally unstable people taking action – and vandalizing the Center. We’ve seen serious death threats and constant harassment. Commonsense Democrats must speak up before this violence takes a life."

KENNEDY CENTER BLASTS ‘FAR-LEFT BIAS’ IN RATINGS COVERAGE, POINTS TO NO. 1 DEMOGRAPHICS TIE

No suspect has been publicly identified. Authorities have not publicly released a motive.

The vandalism forced the cancellation of a scheduled performance at the outdoor rink.

Officials previously stated that violence "will not be tolerated" and said those responsible would be held accountable.

The board of trustees voted unanimously in December 2025 to rename the facility "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." 

President Donald Trump was later elected chairman of the board.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

Ambassador Grenell is urging anyone with information to call 202-416-7900 or reach out to U.S. Park Police.

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When Zohran Mamdani ran for mayor of New York City, he made one promise unmistakably clear: he would freeze the rent. Now that campaign tentpole is poised to collide with the complex economic factors exacerbating the Big Apple’s housing affordability crisis.

As his administration begins to take shape, that pledge, rooted in a democratic socialist vision of housing as a human right, is likely to be the first major political test for Mamdani. Supporters say it is an urgent lifeline for tenants battered by inflation and record rents. Critics warn it could destabilize the city’s fragile housing ecosystem, deepen building distress, and accelerate an exodus of small property owners.

"I have people walking away. I have two people selling their buildings right now. I have more people selling the buildings and leaving for Texas and Florida," Humberto Lopes, founder of the Gotham Housing Alliance, told Fox News Digital.

"People already came to me, and I have their buildings on the market already. Since January, my business in the real estate, I'm a licensed corporate broker, has doubled in the number of buildings we are selling."

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Lopes’ interview, among others, is part of Fox News Digital’s "The Rise of Socialism" series, which examines how socialist ideas and policies are increasingly shaping political debates and public policy in major cities across the United States.

Roughly one million apartments in New York City are rent-stabilized. A rent freeze would apply only to those units, holding annual increases at zero down from 3% for at least a year.

Tenant advocates argue the move is overdue. Median rents in Manhattan hover around $5,000 per month, a figure that Carlina Rivera, president and CEO of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), concedes is "absurd" and increasingly unsustainable for working- and middle-class residents.

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Rivera supports voucher programs, such as CityFHEPS, which moved approximately 30,000 families from shelters into stable housing last year. About 135,000 New Yorkers rely on rental vouchers to remain in their homes. Even so, affordability pressures persist across boroughs.

Mamdani has framed the rent freeze as part of a broader affordability agenda that includes strengthening tenant protections, preventing homelessness, and accelerating housing production on vacant city-owned lots. His administration has signaled support for cutting red tape in environmental review and permitting processes, changes developers say could reduce costs by tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per project.

But landlords and property owners argue the freeze targets only part of the market while ignoring underlying financial realities.

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"It’s impossible to freeze rents when expenses to operate housing continue to rise," said Ann Korchak, board president of the Small Property Owners of New York (SPONY), in an interview with Fox News Digital. "Revenue, which is rent in housing, needs to rise to cover rising expenses."

Across interviews with housing providers, from nonprofit developers to small "mom-and-pop" landlords, a consistent theme has emerged: Operating costs are climbing rapidly.

Insurance premiums for residential properties have risen dramatically since 2019, in some cases more than doubling. Utility costs remain elevated. Property taxes — which often make up 40% to 50% of some small owners’ rent rolls — have increased steadily for years.

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Lopes says property taxes on some buildings are projected to rise between 15% and 40% this year. He revealed that one of his buildings' tax bills will jump from $68,000 to nearly $100,000 while allowable rent increases remain capped at a fraction of that yearly jump.

"Where do you think that money’s going to come from?" Lopes asked.

Landlord groups argue that freezing stabilized rents doesn’t eliminate costs, it redistributes them. In mixed buildings, they say, commercial tenants or market-rate renters may shoulder a greater burden. In others, maintenance and capital upgrades may be deferred.

HOURS AFTER TAKING OFFICE, NYC MAYOR MAMDANI TARGETS LANDLORDS, MOVES TO INTERVENE IN PRIVATE BANKRUPTCY CASE

"If you freeze the rent-stabilized housing," Korchak said, "the commercial rents are going to have to continue to go up to make up for that shortfall, or the free-market tenants will have to pay higher rents."

Affordable housing developers express similar concerns. Rivera said operational stress in rent-stabilized buildings is no longer anecdotal.

"The data is out there as to how people are really struggling," Rivera said. "Operational costs are up in the double digits. And that would be hard for anybody to maintain."

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Rivera supports tenant protections and acknowledges affordability challenges but warns that layering on a rent freeze and higher property taxes could risk foreclosures or bankruptcies, a worst-case scenario she says would be "bad for the city, bad for business."

Mamdani and his allies frequently describe housing as a human right. Critics counter that in New York’s current system, housing is also overwhelmingly a private enterprise.

"When people say housing is a human right," Korchak said, "the reality is most housing in New York is provided by private owners. We are supporting the city through the property tax collection attached to every rental building."

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Property taxes fund schools, police, fire departments, and hospitals. If large swaths of housing were converted to social or nonprofit models, owners argue, the city would lose significant tax revenue unless replacement funding were found.

Jan Lee, a third-generation Chinatown property owner, fears what he sees as increasing hostility toward private ownership.

"If we keep pushing small property owners over this cliff, and we don’t give them the tools that they need to maintain their units, we’re just going to leave New York City," Lee said. "And tenants will be left with a 1-800 number to a corporate entity."

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Lee and others also reject rhetoric that characterizes landlords as exploitative, arguing that many are immigrants or children of immigrants who built intergenerational wealth through property ownership.

"I fear that a lot of the rhetoric that was out of the campaign trail to get votes is actually going to solidify and calcify into something that will reflect true socialism, true socialist views toward housing," he said.

"I think when you start to lump all of us together. And say that we're all the bad thing that's keeping people out of housing, that's racist. I think that saying that [people's] history should be denied and that everything about home ownership is related to White superiority, [that's] racist. You know, this denies the history of how New York City was built. And I, for one, don't agree with it," Lee continued, referencing comments made by Cea Weaver, Mamdani’s new director of the city Office to Protect Tenants.

Weaver and the mayor's office did not return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

'ZOHRANOMICS': NYC MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S SOCIALIST MATH DOESN’T ADD UP

Those deeply embedded in New York City’s housing hub argue the current system has failed tenants for decades. They point to chronic underbuilding, restrictive zoning, and the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, which strengthened rent regulations but, critics say, also limited incentives to renovate vacant stabilized units.

Tenant groups contend that rent stabilization has kept millions housed and that without intervention, market forces alone would push rents even higher.

Any conversation about socialism and housing in New York inevitably turns to NYCHA, the New York City Housing Authority, which houses nearly 400,000 residents. Long plagued by underfunding and deteriorating conditions, NYCHA stands as both a testament to large-scale public housing and a warning about chronic neglect.

MAMDANI ANNOUNCES $2.1M SETTLEMENT WITH MAJOR LANDLORD AS TENANTS DESCRIBE 'NIGHTMARE' CONDITIONS

Rivera argues NYCHA should be treated like other essential infrastructure, akin to the MTA or public hospitals, with sustained investment and conversation rather than episodic crisis management.

"When you see the bad landlords in New York City and the conditions of some of these units, you certainly want to hold them accountable," she said. "When you look at NYCHA, who's the biggest landlord and arguably really responsible for some of the worst conditions, it's a really hard line to walk as to how do you hold an agency accountable in which the government is in charge of when there's also been decades of neglect."

Mamdani has signaled support for stronger public investment and faster housing production, including building on vacant city lots and streamlining bureaucratic processes. But even ambitious construction timelines would take years to materially increase supply.

MAMDANI SAYS HE ‘OBVIOUSLY’ DISAGREES WITH AIDE’S OLD VIEWS LINKING HOMEOWNERSHIP TO WHITE SUPREMACY

New York’s housing crisis was decades in the making. Vacancy rates hover near historic lows. Homelessness remains elevated. Insurance and construction costs are rising nationally. And political polarization has hardened.

A rent freeze may offer immediate relief to stabilized tenants. But its long-term impact will depend on whether it is accompanied by property-tax relief, subsidy expansion, faster production, or deeper structural changes.

For now, the city stands at a crossroads.

To Mamdani’s supporters, this moment represents a long-overdue correction. To critics, it risks repeating the fiscal and housing distress of the 1970s, when disinvestment and abandonment scarred neighborhoods across the five boroughs.

The outcome may determine not only whether New York becomes more affordable, but also what kind of city it chooses to be: one driven primarily by market incentives, or one increasingly shaped by a socialist vision of housing as a public good.

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Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado did not mince words when talking about Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, describing the Texas congresswoman as "radical" and "extreme."

On "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday, Boebert joked about possibly endorsing Crockett while seated next to the Texas congresswoman’s rival for U.S. Senate.

"Maybe I should endorse Jasmine Crockett, so you could do a little better," she told Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico.

Among Texas voters, Crockett is currently running ahead of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a recent statewide survey from Hart Research.

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However, Talarico’s campaign has surged in fundraising and media attention. He raised $2.5 million after CBS pulled his interview with late-night host Stephen Colbert over "equal time" rules for political candidates.

Instead, the interview was uploaded to YouTube on Tuesday and has since received more than 8.4 million views.

DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CALLS NATIONAL PARTY 'CONDESCENDING,' HOSTILE TOWARD FAITH IN RED STATES

On Wednesday, Crockett called the move to post Talarico’s interview online "good strategy" and something that probably gave him a "boost."

While Boebert began by congratulating Talarico on his success in the Democratic primary, she offered a pointed explanation.

"I do think that is why he and the Democrat portion of this primary is doing so well," Boebert said. "Because his opponent is so radical, so extreme. Just a false identity. Came from one place, pretends to be from another."

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After the congresswoman thanked Talarico for doing his best to defeat Crockett in the race, the Democrat pivoted to their united front.

"[Crockett] and I are friends, we serve together," he replied. "We do have different approaches to campaigning and politics, but we are both trying to fight 30 years of one-party rule in our state, which has led to the extremism and the corruption I was just talking about."

In both of his late-night appearances, Talarico spoke out against "Christian nationalism" and advocated for removing the 10 Commandments from public schools in the name of separation of church and state. 

Crockett has been criticized for her rhetoric against Republicans, including referring to their support for President Donald Trump as "loyalty to this...wannabe Hitler" in 2025.

Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett’s team, but did not immediately hear back.

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A federal appeals court cleared the way Friday for a Louisiana law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, lifting a lower court block and reigniting debate over religion in public education.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 12-6 to lift a block first imposed in 2024, finding it was too early to determine the constitutionality of the law. Critics argue the requirement violates the separation of church and state, while supporters say the Ten Commandments are historical and foundational to U.S. law.

The court said in the majority opinion that it was unclear how schools would display the poster-sized materials, noting that the law allows additional content, like the Mayflower Compact or the Declaration of Independence, to appear alongside the Ten Commandments.

The majority wrote that there were not enough facts to "permit judicial judgment rather than speculation" when evaluating potential First Amendment concerns.

COLORADO TEEN WINS FIGHT TO REPAINT SCHOOL PARKING SPACE WITH CHRISTIAN DESIGN AFTER LEGAL CHALLENGE

In a concurring opinion, Circuit Judge James Ho, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, wrote that the law was constitutional and "consistent with our founding traditions."

"It is fully consistent with the Constitution, and what’s more, it reinforces our Founders’ firm belief that the children of America should be educated about the religious foundations and traditions of our country," Ho said, adding that the law "affirms our Nation’s highest and most noble traditions."

Circuit Judge James L. Dennis, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, wrote in a dissenting opinion that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms would amount to "exposing children to government‑endorsed religion in a setting of compulsory attendance."

VIRGINIA BOYS NOTCH COURT WIN AFTER BEING LABELED 'SEXUAL HARASSERS' OVER TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM COMPLAINT

"That is precisely the kind of establishment the Framers anticipated and sought to prevent," he added.

The ACLU of Louisiana and other groups representing the plaintiffs said they would pursue additional legal challenges to block the law.

"Today’s ruling is extremely disappointing and would unnecessarily force Louisiana’s public school families into a game of constitutional whack-a-mole in every school district," the groups wrote in a joint-statement. "Longstanding judicial precedent makes clear that our clients need not submit to the very harms they are seeking to prevent before taking legal action to protect their rights."

WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT FORCES STUDENTS TO HIDE BIBLES IN BACKPACKS, LAWSUIT ALLEGES

Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Friday praised the court's decision, writing on Facebook, "Common sense is making a comeback!"

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement following the ruling, saying schools "should follow the law."

"Don’t kill or steal shouldn’t be controversial. My office has issued clear guidance to our public schools on how to comply with the law, and we have created multiple examples of posters demonstrating how it can be applied constitutionally," she said.

Joseph Davis, an attorney representing Louisiana in the case, celebrated the court's decision.

"If the ACLU had its way, every trace of religion would be scrubbed from the fabric of our public life," he said in a statement. "That position is at odds with our nation’s traditions and our Constitution. We’re glad the Fifth Circuit has allowed Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments in its public school classrooms."

Friday’s ruling came after the full court agreed to reconsider the case, months after a three-judge panel ruled the Louisiana law unconstitutional.

A similar law in Arkansas faces a federal court challenge, while Texas implemented its own Ten Commandments classroom requirement last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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On February 20, 2025, I had the honor of being confirmed as the Ninth Director of the FBI.

In that time, much has happened. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the FBI and our partners at the state, local and federal level have helped deliver one of the safest periods America has seen in decades.

When I sat before the Senate for my confirmation, I promised to refocus the FBI on its core mission: crush violent crime and defend the homeland, strengthen transparency and rebuild public trust. One year in, my team and I have worked every day to turn those words into action. We delivered historic results.

From 2024 to 2025, the FBI saw a 197% increase in arrests, from 34,000 to 67,000. We disrupted 1,800 gangs and criminal enterprises, a 210% increase. Agents seized more than 2,100 kilos of deadly fentanyl — enough to kill 150 million Americans — up 31%. That mission also extended overseas, where my trip to Beijing resulted in a historic agreement to shut off the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals at the source, directly targeting the supply chains poisoning American communities. Arrests tied to Nihilistic Violent Extremism, including offenders who prey on children, rose 490%. More than 6,200 child victims were located, up 22%. Espionage arrests increased 35%. We captured six of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted fugitives in one year — two more than the entirety of the prior administration — a group collectively on the run for more than 50 years, including Ryan Wedding. Nationwide, the murder rate fell by a record 20%, a level not seen in a century.

FBI VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS DOUBLE IN TRUMP'S FIRST YEAR COMPARED TO BIDEN RECORD: 'MASSIVE STRIDES'

President Trump let good cops be cops while giving us the resources needed to execute the mission. The results speak for themselves.

But the success of this administration and this FBI goes well beyond the numbers. Over the last year, quiet but consequential transformations have taken place inside the Bureau — changes many Americans may never see on cable news or social media, but which have paid significant dividends.

From day one, we reoriented the FBI to meet modern threats with four clear priorities: Crush Violent Crime, Defend the Homeland, Restore Public Trust and enforce fierce organizational accountability. Under the prior administration, violent crime barely cracked the top ten FBI priorities. Today, it is a central focus, which is why violent crime arrests doubled to more than 30,000 in 2025.

Shifting resources to defending the homeland helped us capture some of the most wanted criminals in the world: Nicholas Maduro, wanted by the Department of Justice for narcoterrorism; Mohammad Sharifullah, an alleged key ISIS operative in the Abbey Gate suicide bombing in Kabul; and Zubayr Al-Bakoush, a key coconspirator in the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans: Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty. We also disrupted and stopped three separate terror plots during the holiday season, preventing potential mass-casualty attacks and ensuring Americans could celebrate safely.

To restore transparency and oversight, we produced more than 40,000 pages of documents to Congress in our first year alone, a level of disclosure that represents more than double the combined document production of my predecessors.

We reduced the Bureau’s dependence on bloated Washington, D.C. bureaucracy and put safety and security resources back into Main Street America. We moved 1,000 agents out of the National Capital Region into field offices across the country, with 1,000 more intelligence and support personnel to follow this year. We also ignited the advanced training facility at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, including the first-ever law enforcement counter-UAS training program.

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We restructured operations so that field offices no longer report through a single bottleneck at headquarters. Dividing offices into regional structures increased accountability and responsiveness to the public. We eliminated units that failed the mission, including the politicized CR-15 squad, removed personnel who acted unethically, and rebuilt leadership around results.

The FBI is now faster and more responsive, with a heavier focus on technology. We established the Director’s Strategic Information Center (DSIC), a fully overhauled information hub focused on proactive threat identification and 24/7 monitoring of critical incidents to dramatically improve response times. We also launched a Technology Working Group, led by Dan Bongino, to help strengthen national security infrastructure through artificial intelligence and enhanced biometric coordination with interagency partners. Rather than continuing a patchwork approach, we engaged private-sector partners to rebuild core systems and expanded the FBI’s leadership role in the National Counterintelligence Task Force to better coordinate efforts against hostile intelligence actors targeting the United States.

After decades of delay and excess, President Trump facilitated the deal to shut down the Hoover Building project. We canceled a minimum $5 billion taxpayer-funded plan that would not have opened for at least a decade and instead moved toward utilizing the existing Ronald Reagan Building, providing a safe and modern headquarters at a fraction of the cost to the American people.

Perhaps most importantly, we made it a top priority for field leaders to work hand in hand with state and local law enforcement. Last year, we created a series of Homeland Security Task Forces — historic partnerships with state officials focused on removing violent criminals from American streets. In Virginia, that effort resulted in nearly 600 arrests in just one month. We replicated this model in Memphis and Washington, D.C. under the President’s Task Force. In those two cities alone, violent crime is down 30%, while homicides are down nearly 70% in D.C. and 50% in Memphis. We also established the first-ever Law Enforcement Partner Engagement Council (LEPEC), giving local law enforcement a permanent seat at the table inside the FBI.

By the numbers, President Trump’s FBI delivered a record year. But the institutional changes implemented over the last year go far beyond statistics, arrests, or headlines. We have rebuilt and remade the FBI into an organization designed to better serve the American people and keep the country safer for decades to come, alongside our partners at the Department of Justice who continue to prosecute bad actors and hold them accountable.

As for us, we will continue to put the Mission First.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL

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