While all of Friday’s network evening news shows led with the guilty plea of United Healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione, NBC Nightly News was the only show to mention the release of FBI crime statistics that showed a large decrease in violent crime in the first year of President Trump’s second term. Instead of coverage for the decreased crime statistics, ABC dedicated a segment to hit on the construction of the White House ballroom.
Near the middle of the show, anchor Tom Llamas read, “President Trump also, tonight, touting new crime stats from the FBI. The biggest one-year drop in violent crime since the bureau began tracking those stats nearly 100 years ago.”
He then read off the drops in violent crime: “In 2025, murder and manslaughter dropped more than 18 percent. Rape offenses decreased and estimated 7.6 percent, and robberies, the FBI says, were down 18.5 percent.”
Friday's NBC Nightly News was the only network news show to cover the FBI crime statistics release that, as anchor Tom Llamas said, showed the "biggest one-year drop in violent crime since the bureau began tracking those stats nearly 100 years ago." pic.twitter.com/ZEKroKHrKo
— Nick (@nspin310) August 15, 2026
Fox News reported it was the “largest drop in violent crime and murder since 1937.”
Apparently ABC and CBS did not feel the subject was important enough to mention on their nighttime newscast.
But ABC was the worst offender, as they instead dedicated around a minute and a half on White House ballroom construction and a Trump appeal to the Supreme Court that asked for construction to be resumed.
ABC’s Mary Bruce reported from the White House and seemed obsessed with gold and other features of the ballroom in her report:
Instead of covering the decrease in violent crime, ABC continued its obsession with the ballroom and a Trump appeal to the Supreme Court to resume construction.
ABC’s Mary Bruce put her focus on gold features of the ballroom as she described it as a “Lavish new ballroom, adorned… pic.twitter.com/PEiJrjhQ8Z— Nick (@nspin310) August 15, 2026
BRUCE: Tonight, a new look at President Trump's plans for his lavish new ballroom, adorned with gold and marble as he takes his fight to complete it to the Supreme Court.
The White House asking the justices to allow construction to continue, arguing the project is beyond the point of no return.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's going to be one of the most beautiful buildings that's ever been built in the country or in Washington DC.
BRUCE: A district court ruled most above-ground construction must stop next week unless the president gains congressional approval. But the White House argues the president doesn't need their permission and says halting the project threatens the security and safety of the president, citing, quote, “recurrent assassination attempts.”
The president deeply involved. New renderings showing the massive 900,000 square foot project, adorned with Corinthian columns and a new detail: gold presidential seals. Inside, yellow marble floors and more gold finishes.
For a topic like crime that was at the top of the mind for many Americans in their everyday life, ABC’s omission of the stats for more DC-centric ballroom coverage was an interesting choice.
Even a segment like NBC’s brief report would have sufficed. Why avoid the topic entirely?
The full transcripts from NBC and ABC are below. Click "expand":
NBC Nightly News
August 14, 2026
7:13:58 PM Eastern
TOM LLAMAS: President Trump also tonight touting new crime stats from the FBI. The biggest one-year drop in violent crime since the bureau began tracking those stats nearly 100 years ago.
In 2025, murder and manslaughter dropped more than 18 percent. Rape offenses decreased and estimated 7.6 percent, and robberies, the FBI says, were down 18.5 percent.
(...)
ABC World News Tonight
August 14, 2026
6:41:43 PM Eastern
WHIT JOHNSON: To Washington now, and President Trump filing an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court to resume construction on his $400 million White House ballroom.
After nearly a year of work, the White House claiming the project is too far along to be stopped. ABC's Mary Bruce at the white house tonight.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, a new look at President Trump's plans for his lavish new ballroom, adorned with gold and marble as he takes his fight to complete it to the Supreme Court.
The White House asking the justices to allow construction to continue, arguing the project is beyond the point of no return.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's going to be one of the most beautiful buildings that's ever been built in the country or in Washington DC.
BRUCE: A district court ruled most above ground onstruction must stop next week unless the president gains congressional approval. But the White House argues the president doesn't need their permission and says halting the project threatens the security and safety of the president, citing, quote, “recurrent assassination attempts.”
The president deeply involved. New renderings showing the massive 900,000 square foot project, adorned with Corinthian columns and a new detail: gold presidential seals. Inside, yellow marble floors and more gold finishes.
The president has said his design was inspired by the halls of Versailles. In a statement, the White House saying, “Thanks to the builder in chief, the White House will be properly glorified.”
[Cuts back to live]
And White, in response to the filing, the National Trust for Historic Preservation says the White House is, quote, actively attempting to outrun the courts by ramping up construction to try and finish this project before President Trump leaves office. Whit?
(...)
