Trump to tout FBI data showing sharp drop in US crime rates

President Donald Trump is poised to emphasize FBI statistics that are anticipated to reveal the most substantial year-over-year reduction in violent crime ever recorded. This move is intended to strengthen his law-and-order message as the midterm elections approach. The administration's focus on crime statistics comes as it also engages in a legal battle over construction at the White House. The Trump administration has formally requested the U.S. Supreme Court to allow construction to proceed on a $400 million White House ballroom project. This appeal follows a lower court's directive to cease the work, with the administration asserting national security imperatives as justification for continuing the project. This legal maneuver underscores the administration's commitment to the ballroom's construction despite judicial opposition. Meanwhile, the national security apparatus within the White House is experiencing a personnel change. Andy Baker, the deputy national security adviser, is scheduled to leave the administration in the upcoming weeks. Baker, who previously served in the State Department, is known for advocating a more cautious and restrained approach to American foreign policy. His departure signifies another transition within the White House's national security team.