(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump announced that the 2026 World Cup draw will be held at the Kennedy Center.
He suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend the World Cup, talking up his relationship with the Russian leader even as he expressed disappointment over the lack of a peace agreement for Ukraine. Repeating a sentiment from earlier in the week, Trump said he would know whether a peace deal would be possible within two weeks.
He then pivoted to his deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., disputing statistics that show crime has fallen in the district and accused the press of lying because of reports that businesses at restaurants has been down since the federal troops have been present.
“Mayor Bowser better get her act together or she won’t be mayor anymore,” he said of D.C.’s Democratic mayor.
He said he would declare a national emergency if he needed to, in order to keep federal resources in the district.
The president also announced that he would be focusing on Chicago next when it comes to his crackdown on crime.
Trump said the event would bring six million fans to events and drive more than $30 billion for the U.S. economy and create 185,000 jobs.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said there will be 48 participating teams and 104 matches in one month. He also gave Trump the opportunity to touch the World Cup trophy, a privilege rarely awarded.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the administration would ensure those who want to visit the U.S. to attend the World Cup games would get the appropriate visas.
“They’re going to have a very easy time getting in. Certain countries are going to be very easy, others are obviously going to be a little more difficult,” Trump said.
The announcement came on the heels of several national headlines. The Department of Justice is set to begin releasing records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation to Congress on Friday, while the Federal Reserve chair suggested he may soon cut interest rates.
The Oval Office announcement also follows an FBI raid on the D.C.-area home of John Bolton, who served as a national security adviser in Trump’s first administration.
Trump, who referred to himself as the chief law enforcement officer for the country, said he has not been briefed on the raid.
The raid is related to classified documents, two sources familiar with the search told NewsNation. Agents have been spotted entering the Bethesda, Maryland, home with boxes, and were also searching Bolton’s office in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning.
FBI agents carry boxes as they arrive at the house of former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton on Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / GETTY-AFP) 
FBI agents carry boxes as they exit the house of former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton on Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / GETTY-AFP) 
FBI agents carry boxes as they arrive at the house of former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton on Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / GETTY-AFP) 
FBI agents speak with tenants at the house of former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton on Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. (GETTY-AFP) 
Agents walk outside John Bolton’s house after the FBI conducted a court-authorized search at his place on Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by PEDRO UGARTE / GETTY-AFP)
Bolton was not detained and does not face charges, according to the Associated Press. All FBI searches require court-authorized search warrants.
Trump denied any prior knowledge of raid, telling reporters: “I tell Pam (Bondi) and I tell the group. I don’t want to know about it. You have to do what you have to do. I don’t want to know about it.”
He added that he expects to be briefed by Department of Justice officials later in the day.
NewsNation’s Meg Hilling, Diana Falzone and Libbey Dean contributed to this report.