Ten Tennessee teenagers were arrested and face criminal charges in connection with a viral TikTok door-kicking challenge.
The “Door Kick Challenge” is a controversial social media trend in which individuals—typically young people—kick residential front doors, often at night, and quickly flee the area. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
KNOCK IT OFF: Police are warning residents about a viral TikTok trend known as the “door kick” or “door knock challenge” after three Florida teenagers were arrested for allegedly kicking a homeowner&#8217;s door. <a href="https://t.co/CSNJFqv88Q">pic.twitter.com/CSNJFqv88Q</a>
— Seattle Smith🇺🇸 (@smith_seattle1) <a href="https://x.com/smith_seattle1/status/1996461333710352702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
Attempting to outdo the “ding-dong ditch” prank, the challenge has at times led to property damage and safety concerns. 
Spanning <a href="https://www.police1.com/social-media/breaking-down-the-door-kick-challenge-a-viral-trend-with-real-world-risks">across the country</a> and <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nanaimo-door-kick-challenge-9.7251462">around the world</a>, the trend has taken on a life of its own—and now carries real-world consequences for a group of teenagers in a Nashville suburb.
<a href="https://x.com/FranklinTNPD/status/2072717353658314927?s=20">The Franklin Police Department</a> arrested ten teenagers, ages 14 to 18, for allegedly participating in the prank. Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to multiple reports of individuals kicking or striking the front doors of homes, then fleeing in the upscale neighborhood. 
“After receiving multiple calls, Franklin police officers quickly flooded the area, established a perimeter, and sealed off the neighborhood,” the police department said. “During the operation, officers located a vehicle carrying all 10 suspects.”
Inside the vehicle, police officers said they found a BB gun designed to closely resemble a real handgun, along with a ski mask. Two adults, Gio Smith, 18, and Jordan Curll, 18, were charged with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Eight additional suspects, ages 14 to 17, were taken into custody and charged in Juvenile Court with aggravated burglary, vandalism, and curfew violations.
&#8220;This dangerous trend is far from harmless,&#8221; said Franklin Police Chief Deb Faulkner. &#8220;Kicking the door of an occupied home in the middle of the night creates fear and uncertainty for the people inside. 
“Homeowners have no way of knowing whether someone is playing a prank or attempting to break into their home, and they may respond accordingly to protect themselves and their families,” she added.  
Franklin, an affluent suburb known for its Southern charm, is the latest community to report arrests tied to the trend.
Out west in California, police have reported eight incidents in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, resulting in five juvenile arrests, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/door-kick-challenge-arrests-elk-grove/">according to CBS Sacramento</a>. One homeowner’s doorframe was damaged so severely that repair costs totaled $900. 
&#8220;Somebody could come out with a gun, and you could never know, these kids could be dead just for a stupid prank,&#8221; homeowner Ronnie Monroe told the outlet. 
In Frisco, Texas, police arrested a 58-year-old man for aggravated assault after he allegedly fired multiple rounds at a vehicle fleeing a neighborhood following the door-kicking prank. 
“Parents, please talk to your kids about the dangers of participating in these types of TikTok challenges,” <a href="https://www.friscotexas.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2470">said</a> Frisco Police Chief David Shilson. “For homeowners, it is important to understand that there are legal and criminal consequences for running outside and shooting at a vehicle fleeing the scene.”

Viral TikTok Prank Lands Ten Teens In Custody

Crime

Nashville

News

Tennessee

TikTok

TikTok Trend

Country music&#8217;s biggest stars packed Nashville&#8217;s Nissan Stadium on Saturday night to celebrate Alan Jackson as he performed the final concert of his legendary career.
The 67-year-old singer-songwriter put on his last set alongside George Strait, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Riley Green, Cody Johnson, Lee Ann Womack, and other artists who gathered to honor Jackson. The event was filmed for an NBC concert special celebrating Jackson ahead of his retirement. 
Jackson performed many of his well-known hits, including singles “Gone Country,” “Livin’ on Love,” “Summertime Blues” and “Midnight in Montgomery.” He also played “Little Bitty,” “Country Boy,” “Good Time,” and his post-9/11 anthem, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” Fireworks lit up the sky during “Chattahoochee,” according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alan-jackson-final-concert-george-strait-72ebb2f87fdca2c2ae8a7308278c9b9b">Associated Press</a>.
Jackson addressed the crowd, saying the experience was “overwhelming” before joking that he wouldn&#8217;t spend much time on “last show stuff” because he’s “not dead.”
Jackson announced last year that he would retire from touring, telling fans during a concert in Milwaukee that it would be his &#8220;last roadshow.&#8221; 
“It’s been a long, sweet ride; it started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an old U-Haul trailer and chased this dream,&#8221; Jackson said. &#8220;It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American Dream, for sure. So blessed. Thank you all so much for all your support of my music and attending my shows.” 
The announcement came four years after Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a neurological disorder.
“I’ve been reluctant to talk about this publicly and to my fans, but it’s been a while, and it’s starting to affect my performance onstage a little bit where I don’t feel comfortable,” Jackson said in 2021.
“I just wanted the fans and the public to know if they’ve come to see me in the last few years or if they come to see me in the future if I play anymore, what’s going on. I don’t want them to think I’m drunk onstage because I’m having problems with mobility and balance.” 
While Jackson said the condition is not fatal, he acknowledged it would eventually make performing more difficult.
“This is not a condition that I would be complaining about typically, but it is going to affect me performance-wise onstage, and I don’t know how much I’ll continue to tour,” Jackson said at the time.
Jackson is known for blending traditional honky-tonk with mainstream country, creating a signature sound. With more than 60 million albums sold, 35 number-one hits, and numerous awards, including Grammys and CMA honors, he’s one of country music’s most enduring and respected artists.

Alan Jackson

Country Legends Unite For Farewell Show

Country Music

Music

U.S.

Thank God For Country Music. That’s what Lakelin Lemmings is saying as she heads into her second CMA Fest, the Country Music Association&#8217;s annual festival in Nashville, this week, just up the road from where the 20-year-old grew up with a guitar in her hand.
The West Tennessee native’s ties to country music began the day she was born. Her father toured in a band, and when Lakelin wanted to get involved in the music industry, he knew just who to call.
Ash Bowers, the lead singer of her father&#8217;s band, had already established himself as a hit songwriter, securing cuts with Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Dustin Lynch, before getting into the management side.
Bowers, who is now the executive vice president for Quartz Hill Music Group, signed Lemmings at 19 years old, making her the record label’s youngest artist.
Since signing her deal, Lemmings has released a flurry of songs, with her single &#8220;Get Around Boy&#8221; landing on a prestigious list as a &#8220;Top 5 Most Added&#8221; song in April.
&#8220;I just want to make good music that if you&#8217;re six years old, you can listen to, if you&#8217;re 90 years old, you can listen to it,&#8221; Lemmings told The Daily Wire.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been called to do this. I just felt like it&#8217;s only right that I mention the guy that got me here,&#8221; she said.
The artist draws on her faith, penning the song &#8220;Life of Mine,&#8221; which echoes the melody of the beloved hymn &#8220;This Little Light of Mine.&#8221;
&#8220;My faith is super important to me,&#8221; Lemmings said. &#8220;And not only was this like a dream of mine as a child &#8230; growing up, but I remember I felt the calling by God to pursue this.&#8221;
&#8220;There [are] so [many] drinking songs and cheating songs and all this kind of stuff, and some of them are great, but I feel like there was a need for just positive, good country music.&#8221;
She&#8217;s putting an album out this summer, and you can expect her southern roots to shine through on tracks like &#8220;American Dreamin,&#8221; which drops later this June, focusing on the things that shaped her in her small Tennessee town: family, faith, and the obvious… country music.
&#8220;It kind of leans a little bit faith-based, but I like to say that I&#8217;m not a country Christian artist, I&#8217;m just a country artist that&#8217;s Christian,&#8221; Lemmings said.
As she’s already started making her CMA Fest rounds, which Lemmings says is surreal, knowing she’s playing at the premier Nashville country fest she’s grown up coming to since she was a little girl.
&#8220;Going to the free things like the Riverfront Stage, and then in 2023 to have actually saved up some money to go to Nissan Stadium to see it, which was super fun … but as an artist, CMA Fest means a lot just because it&#8217;s a way to connect with fans.&#8221;
Lainey Wilson and Ella Langley are just a couple of big names in country music who, not too long ago, were playing a small stage for an even smaller number of fans. Lemmings is aware of their rapid trajectory and is prepared to work hard to headline CMA Fest one day, too.
&#8220;I think for me that goes to show that I need to buckle up because it can happen quicker than you think,&#8221; she said.
Lemmings self-titled album drops in July.

Credit: Noah Johnson

‘I Felt The Calling By God To Pursue This’: Lakelin Lemmings On Faith And Country Music

CMA Fest

Entertainment

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers successfully hunted down an illegal immigrant convicted of attempted murder who had been roaming the country for years despite having a deportation order and a lengthy rap sheet, The Daily Wire has learned.
Dramatic footage of the May 5 raid showed ICE officers knocking on the door of Sudanese illegal immigrant Gabriel Maror Ayuel&#8217;s Nashville apartment before a man appeared at the door. The officers appeared to have a calm interaction with Ayuel before they took him away in handcuffs.
Ayuel received a conviction for first-degree attempted murder in Davidson County in 2003 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to ICE.
WATCH:
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He only served about nine years of his sentence, according to law enforcement sources. The reasoning for his shortened stint behind bars is not clear.
For months, ICE officers investigated his whereabouts and found him at his apartment in South Nashville. He later told the officers that he had just moved into the building the week before his arrest.
&#8220;The subject that we just arrested received a removal order about 20 years ago, continued to just remain here in the United States while he was committing those crimes,&#8221; one of the officers could be heard saying in the video of the raid as he sat in the driver&#8217;s seat.
Ayuel arrived in the United States in 1995 as a refugee, ICE said. While in the United States, he received his attempted murder conviction, and was also arrested for driving under the influence and failure to appear in Georgia, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony possession of a prohibited weapon and felony flight to avoid prosecution in Tennessee.
While he was behind bars in July 2008, Ayuel received a deportation order, according to ICE. Despite that, he never left the country, which is considered a felony offense.
“Removing illegal aliens with serious criminal convictions from our communities is essential to protecting public safety,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans acting Field Office Director Brian Acuna said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire.
“We are committed to enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing cases that pose a threat to our neighborhoods,&#8221; he added.
The Trump administration&#8217;s mass deportation effort has resulted in more than 641,000 arrests and over 800,000 deportations, White House border czar Tom Homan recently told the Washington Examiner.
ICE sources told The Daily Wire that there is a renewed pressure on the force to increase arrest numbers and work longer hours.

Untitled design – 2026-06-02T152219.845

EXCLUSIVE: Illegal Immigrant Convicted Of Attempted Murder Caught After Roaming The U.S. For Years

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

As CMA Fest approaches next week, bringing in hundreds of thousands of fans to the country music capital of the world, a different genre takes center stage Friday night.
K-LOVE, which creates media designed to inspire and encourage people to develop a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, is set to air its annual Fan Awards. The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Sunday, but it will be broadcast to the public on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET when the awards will be officially revealed for the first time.
The ceremony will feature Christian artists found on K-LOVE stations across all 50 states as well as online. The K-LOVE Fan Awards is a yearly event that celebrates the accomplishments of artists, authors, entertainers — and even athletes this year — who share the message of Jesus Christ.
The year’s most nominated artist is Phil Wickham, who enters the awards ceremony with four nominations. Other top nominees include Lauren Daigle, Jamie MacDonald, Jeremy Camp, Josiah Queen, and Elevation Worship, who all have three nominations each.
Wickham has been a force for decades in contemporary Christian music. The California native is nominated for Song of the Year, Worship Song, Artist of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
<div id="attachment_1102241" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1102241" class="size-large wp-image-1102241" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-89-864x576.png" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-89-864x576.png 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-89-300x200.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-89-768x512.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-89.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images</div>
The Song of the Year category is stacked with hits including &#8220;Can’t Steal My Joy&#8221; by Josiah Queen and Brandon Lake, as well as &#8220;The Love I Have For You&#8221; by Colton Dixon.
For Dixon, it’s not his first time being nominated, but Friday could mark his first win.
&#8220;I was incredibly honored to be nominated for Song of the Year with &#8216;The Love I Have For You,'&#8221; Dixon told The Daily Wire. &#8220;The K-LOVE Fan Awards are all about the connection between the song and the listener, and I’m just grateful to know that God has used me, even in a small way, to bridge the gap of a need in someone’s life.&#8221;
The 13th annual awards take place at the historic Grand Ole Opry, where hosts Lauren Daigle and Sadie Robertson Huff are expected to bring a strong message to the audience.
&#8220;The theme this year is beauty from ashes, and I really believe this night will bring so much hope and joy to people walking through hard times,&#8221; Robertson Huff said. &#8220;This night is about worship, coming together, and lifting up the name of Jesus. We could all use a night like this!&#8221;
This year will mark the second time Robertson Huff has hosted the event. She previously hosted the awards with Brandon Lake in 2024. Daigle, the most decorated female in the history of the K-LOVE Fan Awards, will host the awards show for the first time.
Daigle, a nine-time winner of the K-LOVE Fan Awards, told The Daily Wire that fans give the music purpose.
&#8220;The fans make all the difference when it comes to music! You can sit in a room crafting songs, giving it your most earnest effort, there is great joy in this — but when you see the impact a song has on those listening, everything changes,&#8221; Daigle said. &#8220;I’m so grateful for the honor of hosting the K-LOVE Fan Awards with my dear friend and fellow Louisiana native, Sadie.&#8221;
Daigle, who has become a mainstream name in music since releasing her debut album in 2015, said she tried to get an unlikely guest to the Grand Ole Opry for Friday’s celebration.
<div id="attachment_1102243" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1102243" class="size-large wp-image-1102243" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-90-864x576.png" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-90-864x576.png 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-90-300x200.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-90-768x512.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-90.png 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images</div>
&#8220;I tried getting a live alligator to the set, but they didn’t go for it,&#8221; Daigle said.
The awards are the finale for a weekend takeover of Christian music in Nashville. In addition to the ceremony, fans traveled to see live performances in Nashville, including previously announced concerts and showcases.
CAIN, who headlined the 2026 K-LOVE Kickoff Concert, is up for Group of the Year after releasing &#8220;Jesus Lifted Me&#8221; last year.
&#8220;Year in and year out, this is always one of our favorite weekends because we know it will be both an incredible night of celebrating Jesus and all He has done and praising God with our peers and Christian music fans from all over the world,&#8221; CAIN told The Daily Wire.
The K-LOVE Fan Awards air on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and the TBN+ app on Friday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Faith Takes Center Stage In The Music City: See Which Artists Are Up For Christian Fan Awards

Award Shows

Christian

Cody Johnson returned to the Academy of Country Music Awards stage Sunday night with a twist on the familiar patriotic anthem &#8220;Travelin&#8217; Soldier&#8221; in front of the packed house at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
With an American flag draped behind him, Johnson belted out the lyrics &#8220;Waitin&#8217; for the love of a travelin&#8217; soldier, our love will never end, waitin&#8217; for the soldier to come back again, never more to be alone, when the letter says, &#8216;A soldier&#8217;s comin&#8217; home.'&#8221; His performance also showcased various branches of the military in action.
Johnson took home the biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, later in the night.
Award shows are often an invitation for political grandstanding. For example, ICE was cast in a negative light at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Johnson chose a decidedly different route, sharing his heartfelt version of the decades-old tune about a teenage girl and a soldier heading off to fight in the Vietnam War.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Cody Johnson - &quot;Travelin&#039; Soldier&quot; [61st Academy of Country Music Awards]" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nlivpsQpZy8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Johnson has long been a supporter of our troops and began singing an acoustic version of &#8220;Travelin&#8217; Soldier&#8221; during the pandemic. It quickly became a hit, so he finally released the studio version in November 2025 just before Veterans Day. Since the release on Spotify, Johnson&#8217;s version of &#8220;Travelin&#8217; Soldier&#8221; has 77 million streams.
The Texas native brought the crowd to their feet as he ended the song Sunday, proving why the Academy deemed him Entertainer of the Year. He had to beat out some of country music&#8217;s best to take home that trophy for the first time in his career. Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Morgan Wallen were all up for the coveted award. Johnson, known among fans as CoJo, also took home the award for Male Artist of the Year.
The 38-year-old&#8217;s big night at the ACMs builds momentum toward his next studio album, &#8220;Banks Of The Trinity,&#8221; set to be released in June. It&#8217;s his all-new studio album since 2023, when Johnson released &#8220;Leather,&#8221; featuring some of his biggest hits, including &#8220;Dirt Cheap.&#8221;

Credit: Rich Polk/Dick Clark Productions via Getty Images

WATCH: Country Star Brings Down The House With Patriotic ‘Travelin’ Soldier’

WATCH: Country Artist Shows American Pride At ACM Awards With Performance Of 'Travelin' Soldier'

country

Patriotic

Texas

“Nashville” actress Hayden Panettiere recalled a disturbing encounter from her late teens in which she says a trusted friend led her into what felt like a trap involving a “very famous” naked man.
Panettiere, now 36, shared the story during Monday&#8217;s episode of Jay Shetty&#8217;s &#8220;On Purpose&#8221; podcast while discussing her upcoming memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” She said the incident happened when she was 18 years old.
“You write about a moment in your career where a friend of yours takes you onto a boat,” Shetty said during the podcast. “You’re led to a room which has an older man in it and then basically told to perform sexual acts.”
Reflecting on the experience, Panettiere said she was young and naive at the time, despite believing otherwise.
“The fact that I was 18, even though I’d lived such a huge life and I thought I was oh so mature at 18 … scientifically, our frontal lobes don’t develop until we’re what, 25, 26?” Panettiere replied. “So even though I felt like I could make healthy decisions, safe decisions, I wasn’t capable of being fully aware of what was going on around me.”
&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t until I found myself in predicaments that I realized — my perspective completely shifted, and I realized that I was in danger,&#8221; she went on. &#8220;But by the time I&#8217;d realized I was in danger, I was quite literally out to sea.&#8221;
Panettiere described feeling shocked and betrayed by the person who brought her there.
“It took me by surprise,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It was somebody led by somebody that I had grown to trust and see as a protector and somebody who had my back. To be walked down the stairs, it was presented as though it was a surprise.”
&#8220;It was a very small room, and she physically put me in the bed next to this undressed man who was very famous,&#8221; Panettiere added, saying it seemed like “an average day for him and this is something that happens all the time.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="HAYDEN PANETTIERE Tells Her Truth For The First Time Ever (Custody, Addiction, Fame, Hollywood)" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vs6x8VUGXCw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;I became ferocious,&#8221; she recalled. &#8220;I was like, &#8216;This is not happening.&#8217; But I had nowhere to hide. I bolted and I hid wherever I could think of on a boat… There was no jumping off and swimming away,&#8221; she said. &#8220;There was nobody who was going to be empathetic to my situation. This was nothing new to them.&#8221;
She said it was “disappointing” to be let down by someone she trusted. 
&#8220;When you really find somebody that you trust, you hold on to them for dear life and you feel so lucky,” the “Heroes” star added. &#8220;So to be betrayed like that is just an awful feeling.&#8221;
Panettiere&#8217;s memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” is set to be released May 19.

Hayden Panettiere

‘Nashville’ Star Says She Was Lured Into Dangerous Situation With ‘Very Famous’ Naked Man

Celebrities

Hollywood

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
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After establishing its self-driving reputation in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, Waymo officially launched in <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2026/04/your-waymo-ride-now-arriving-in-nashville/">Nashville on Tuesday</a>. Despite a ride invite waitlist that’s “<a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/cars/2026/04/07/waymo-driverless-rideshare-vehicles-nashville-autonomous/89450952007/">tens of thousands</a>” of people long, I was lucky enough to snag an exclusive ride-along with Waymo spokesperson Mark Lewis in downtown Music City. 
Did I imagine myself dying alone in a fiery crash? Yes. But after a stellar spin around town, I do declare that autonomous car life is finer than frog hair, y’all. (Hoping that sounded slightly Southern.) You might even call it a “<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/meghan-markle-quiet-luxury-style?srsltid=AfmBOordYrDH9a0sTKxvfihMZF5v0JxQgYgz3sVg8pqJevyLI1buRDSn">quiet luxury</a>” if you were Meghan Markle trying to sell scented candles.
“We know for a new rider that this can sometimes be an anxious experience,” Lewis reassured me as we buckled up to the soothing sounds of Waymo entrance music. “We really want to get you in the right mindset … We’re gonna take care of you,” I screamed as we began our 5 mph journey to the nearest stop sign like I was on a roller coaster. Mostly because it was terrifyingly cool.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Waymo launched in Nashville! <a href="https://t.co/2kLsJPBF4F">pic.twitter.com/2kLsJPBF4F</a>
— Lauren Bair (@LaurenBairDW) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenBairDW/status/2042266792655978706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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If you’re already a fan of Uber or Lyft, you’re familiar with the ol’ download the app, call a ride, rate, and tip routine. While I have fond memories of not being able to find an Uber that was allegedly “waiting” for me, listening to a driver’s tear-jerking overshare, or being at the mercy of someone&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cannabis.ca.gov/consumers/whats-legal/">recreational cannabis</a> habit, Waymo delivers an elevated experience. Just get in the car, and let AI do all the work.
You can be the hero of your own driverless journey by customizing the legroom, temperature, and music via the app or the touchscreen inside the car. Go for party energy with up to four riders, or enjoy peaceful me-time until you reach your destination. Imagine it less like a horse-drawn carriage racing through Frontier Town USA and more like a high-end day spa on wheels. You won’t even feel the road. 
Along with offering possibly the most comfortable ride in the industry, Waymo puts safety first. And each car is outfitted with the kind of tech that makes the <a href="https://thejetsons.fandom.com/wiki/Flying_Car">flying cars</a> of “The Jetsons” feel adorably low-budget. The car arrives locked and opens only for you.
“These peculiar things sticking out, and spinning things,” Lewis told me, help the Waymo Driver gauge “where it is and where to go.” Comparing Waymo sensors to human eyes and ears, he added, “With a Waymo, we have 29 ‘eyes.’” That includes six radars, four <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2026/02/ro-on-6th-gen-waymo-driver/">LiDARs</a> (the rotating lasers that construct an extraordinarily detailed 3D world for Waymo, day and night), and four audio sensors listening for emergency sirens. 
Waymo maps every inch of the city, from traffic cones to speed bumps. My car gracefully avoided a jaywalker who jumped out in front of us, as well as several dog walkers and a homeless man pushing a grocery cart into the street. It cautiously entered traffic almost as if it were really looking both ways, like a person. Probably because it sees in every direction all at once. 
Waymo wants to be “<a href="https://waymo.com/about/#story">the world’s most trusted driver</a>,” and I&#8217;ll gladly preach the gospel. Boasting a <a href="https://waymo.com/safety/impact/">92% reduction</a> in overall crashes compared to human drivers, the fully autonomous <a href="https://waymo.com/waymo-driver/">Waymo Driver</a>, as it’s called, has clocked more hours on the road than a human ever could. “It’s the most experienced driver around,” Lewis told me. “The Waymo Driver drives more than seven lifetimes of a human driver in a week.” All in, it’s analyzed 170 million miles of autonomous driving, and counting.
Yes, there are <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/12/03/business/waymo-self-driving-cars-make-illegal-u-turns-zigzag-through-tunnels/">stories</a> floating around about Waymo cars zigzagging through streets, missing stop signs, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ABC7/videos/3-waymo-cars-in-standoff-cause-traffic-jam-in-san-francisco/1171617978016562/">causing traffic jams</a>, along with a few reported violations of regional <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mhl7tZE3So">school bus</a> laws. Since Google first started testing its <a href="https://waymo.com/about/#:~:text=Waymo's%20investor%20relations%20also%20includes:%20*%20Network,rider%2Donly%20service%20to%20the%20public%20in%20SF">self-driving car in 2009</a>, Waymo vehicles have been involved in two <a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/waymo-multi-car-wreck-san-francisco-driverless/3766860/">fatal collisions</a> caused by drivers of other cars. While distracted human driving results in a fatality <a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/traffic-deaths-2025-early-estimates-2024-annual">every 2.5 hours</a>, the Waymo Driver has yet to be responsible for any deaths. Maybe it has one up on the rest of us when it comes to navigating without texting or opening up a bag of chips for the road. Waymo is “13 times safer than a human driver when it comes to serious accidents or worse,” Lewis says.
Beyond its spotless record, Waymo aims to help users thrive, providing a resource for those in need of reliable transportation. “People with disabilities, people with service animals that may need more time to board,” utilize partnerships that Waymo forms in each city, Lewis noted. In Nashville, the company partners with the National Federation of The Blind and AgeWell to offer “a vehicle that is dependable, that shows up exactly when it says, that will wait and be patient with you … It’s really powerful that we can serve those communities.”
It’s also a super great option for bachelorettes who partied too hard on Broadway. (There’s even an easy-to-find “pull over” button in case any skinny margs might be coming back up.) Woo! 
I also enjoyed not having to enter the shame spiral involved in choosing the gender of my driver, or weighing whether I should care about offsetting my carbon footprint enough to pay more for it, like other ride-shares. Waymo’s <a href="https://waymo.com/sustainability/#:~:text=A%20sustainable%20way%20to%20move,does%20not%20support%20this%20video.">all-electric fleet</a> leaves zero emissions on the street. And if you have a question, you can press the support button to talk with a human on the other end.
Your chariot — a sleek <a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2018/03/meet-our-newest-self-driving-vehicle/">Jaguar I-PACE</a> SUV — awaits. And new vehicles are slated to join the lineup (like the Waymo Ojai that looks like a minivan and offers more leg room, and the Hyundai Ioniq). While Waymo&#8217;s rates used to be significantly higher than those of Uber or Lyft, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/27/the-price-gap-between-waymo-and-uber-is-narrowing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent numbers</a> show a difference of just a few bucks, as Waymo prices drop and other rideshares rise. I’d gladly pay an extra $2 to eliminate an awkward conversation about my driver’s male modeling side-hustle on the way to the airport. Make that $20.
I was daydreaming about Waymo long after I watched it drive off into the sunset to pick up its next guest. Waymo might stand for “<a href="https://waymo.com/blog/2016/12/say-hello-to-waymo-whats-next-for/#:~:text=Today%2C%20we're%20taking%20our,and%20things%20to%20move%20around.">a new way forward in mobility</a>,” but if I still had my Trapper Keeper from high school, I would be scribbling “Lauren + Waymo” with bubble hearts on the cover. Further solidifying my crush, I got my official Waymo invite the next day. “Where to, Lauren?” it asked, prompting me to set the soundtrack for my next Nashville adventure. (Swoon!) 
Still hesitant to jump into a car with “no driver”? I promise the journey’s just as fun as the destination. Now that Waymo’s in Nashville, and almost certainly coming to <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/cars/2026/04/07/waymo-driverless-rideshare-vehicles-nashville-autonomous/89450952007/">a city near you</a>, all you have to do is download the app and enjoy the ride.

Is Anyone Safe In A Car With No Driver? Jump In For Nashville’s Wildest Ride

Upstream

Waymo

War Secretary Pete Hegseth stepped in on Tuesday, lifting the suspension on the Army aircraft crews who flew past musician Kid Rock&#8217;s Nashville mansion, dubbed the Southern White House.
Hegseth shared a post announcing the move, saying, &#8220;Thank you @KidRock. @USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/KidRock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KidRock</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USArmy</a> pilots suspension LIFTED.
No punishment. No investigation.
Carry on, patriots. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Zqhv1Zx1iG">https://t.co/Zqhv1Zx1iG</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2039109100282196436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/apache-helicopters-kid-rock-house-crew-suspended/">CBS News</a> reported earlier on Tuesday that the Army aircraft crews had been suspended.
According to the news outlet, the crews have been grounded. An Army spokesperson said in a statement that a full review will look into &#8220;the circumstances surrounding the mission, including compliance with relevant FAA regulations, aviation safety protocol, and approval requirements.&#8221;
&#8220;The Army takes any allegations of unauthorized or unsafe flight operations very seriously and is committed to enforcing standards and holding personnel accountable,&#8221; Maj. Montrell Russell said.
Two helicopters identified as AH-64 Apaches — coming from Fort Campbell, Kentucky — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kid-rock-sparks-military-investigation-after-wild-stunt-at-southern-white-house">flew by</a> Kid Rock&#8217;s &#8220;Southern White House,&#8221; where the singer saluted the crew from his pool deck as he stood next to his replica of the Statue of Liberty.
&#8220;This is a level of respect that sh*t for brains Governor of California will never know,&#8221; Kid Rock captioned the <a href="https://x.com/KidRock/status/2037987671671292134?s=20">video</a> he posted of the helicopters that now has more than 10 million views. &#8220;God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her.&#8221;
Since Army officials launched the &#8220;administrative review&#8221; Monday, Kid Rock has spoken out defending the servicemen he was delighted to see.
“It was pretty cool they stopped right there,” Kid Rock told local Nashville station <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/kid-rock-helicopter-pilot-crew-suspended/">WKRN</a>. &#8220;I wasn’t expecting any of that, but I thought it was really neat.&#8221;
The musician, whose real name is Robert Ritchie, told WKRN he doesn&#8217;t think the chopper crews will be punished too severely as a result of their actions.
&#8220;I think they’re going to be alright,&#8221; Kid Rock said. &#8220;My buddy is the commander in chief.&#8221;
Kid Rock was obviously talking about his friend, President Donald Trump. The outspoken conservative is a longtime Trump supporter and even sang at the last Republican National Convention.
The pilots of the Army choppers apparently had the green light — at least as far as Kid Rock was concerned — to fly by the mansion. The singer told WKRN he has met with the pilots, who are stationed not too far away from Music City, and told the servicemen they could &#8220;cruise&#8221; by his place anytime.
The Daily Wire has reached out to Fort Campbell officials about the incident.

Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Pete Hegseth Steps In After Army Pilots Buzz Kid Rock’s Mansion

America

Kid Rock

Trump

White House

NASHVILLE—It was a humid night in June 2024 when Matt Carney encountered a pair of men rummaging through his truck.
Carney, who owned the popular chicken restaurant Smokin&#8217; Thighs, went to confront the men. As he did, they sped out of the parking lot, striking Carney and knocking him onto the street. As police hunted for the men behind the fatal hit-and-run, Carney succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Eventually, Nashville police arrested Ulises Martinez, first confirmed by The Daily Wire to be an illegal immigrant from Mexico, and charged him with murder over the incident. Martinez <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-immigrant-confesses-to-killing-nashville-man-in-hit-and-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a> to police that he was driving the car that fatally struck Carney, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement slapped a detainer on him.
Smokin&#8217; Thighs, which Carney built from the ground up, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/saying-goodbye-is-hard-nashville-restaurant-closes-doors-after-owner-killed-by-illegal-immigrant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> a few short months after his death. Martinez has yet to face justice as his case <a href="https://sci.ccc.nashville.gov/Search/CriminalHistory?P_CASE_IDENTIFIER=ULISES%5EMARTINEZ%5E09131999%5E624024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">makes</a> its way through the Davidson County court system.
The case quickly made headlines as then-candidate Donald Trump talked about the incident as he warned about a “migrant crime wave.”
“Look at what’s happening to our cities. Our cities are being overrun,” Trump said. “On July 4th, a 42-year-old Nashville man died after he tried to stop an illegal alien from stealing tools out of his truck. The illegal alien did a number on this man that nobody could even believe. The police officers said one of the most vicious crimes they’ve ever seen.”
<div id="attachment_1062437" style="width: 1287px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1062437" class="size-full wp-image-1062437" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png" alt="" width="1277" height="692" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM.png 1277w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-300x163.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-1024x555.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-19-at-10.41.02-AM-768x416.png 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1277px) 100vw, 1277px" />Martinez/Smokin Thighs.</div>
The case illustrated how illegal immigration can impact even deeply red states like Tennessee. While Joe Biden was in office, conservative states struggled to respond as the federal government released millions of illegal immigrants into the United States. With the Trump administration, some Republican lawmakers see a golden opportunity to crack down on illegal immigration.
<h4>‘Once In A Generation Opportunity’ </h4>
Since Trump’s return to the White House, states like California and Minnesota have made headlines for resisting the president’s immigration agenda. Republican leaders in Tennessee, spurred on by cases like Carney’s, want the Volunteer State to be different.
“We have what I refer to as kind of a once in a generation opportunity, given the Trump administration&#8217;s emphasis on removing illegal immigrants and mass deportation,” Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson told The Daily Wire.
“When we look at states like Michigan, New York, and California, others that are literally fighting the Trump administration on those efforts, we wanted to send a very clear message that we were not only going to cooperate, but do everything we could to help make them successful in their efforts in Tennessee,” he added.
Johnson, alongside other state Republican leaders like House Speaker Cameron Sexton and House Majority Leader William Lamberth, introduced an immigration package at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session focused on reducing illegal immigration.
The legislative package, crafted with input from White House officials, includes bills that would make illegal immigration a crime in Tennessee; mandate legal status for public employees and citizenship verification for those who receive public benefits; protect ICE agents from being doxed; and increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
Sexton says he had discussions with the White House after they began collaborating on a project to clean up crime in Memphis. He praised federal officials for their input on the legislative package and said they viewed Tennessee “as being the beacon of showing other states how to do something comprehensive and really transform your state.”
The White House said that it was happy to speak with all state lawmakers about how to fight illegal immigration.
“Illegal aliens should not be receiving federal welfare benefits while hardworking Americans foot the bill,” a White House official told The Daily Wire. “The President’s entire Intergovernmental Affairs team has been willing to speak with state legislators seeking advice on how to effectively enact the President’s agenda and protect the American people from fraud and abuse perpetrated by illegal aliens.”
<h4>A ‘Beacon’ To The Nation </h4>
Republican leaders are confident that most of the bills will make it across the finish line before the legislative session wraps up next month. The proposals are focused on increasing cooperation with the federal government and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.
One of the <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1710&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposals</a> making its way through the legislature would mandate that local governments verify legal residency before doling out benefits. It would also mandate reporting to ICE applicants whose citizenship couldn’t be verified. Under that bill, the Tennessee attorney general would be empowered to withhold shared tax revenue from entities that refuse to restrict public benefits.
“I want to help our people who are Tennessee citizens, who are here legally and lawfully, that need help and assistance,” Sexton told The Daily Wire, noting that reports show 20% of public housing is taken up by illegal immigrants. “That&#8217;s taken up space from someone who is here legally and lawfully in a Tennessee resident who&#8217;s homeless and on the streets, that&#8217;s a problem.”
Another <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1705&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key plank</a> of the package is making <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-the-law-that-would-make-companies-who-hire-illegal-aliens-feel-the-pain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E-Verify</a> — a free platform from the Department of Homeland Security that employers use to authenticate the legal status of potential employees — mandatory for all state and local government employers, including schools. The proposals come as reports of illegal immigrants being hired as police officers throughout the country. Local entities that don’t implement E-Verify could lose out on shared sales tax revenue.
Some of the proposals are intended to assess the monetary cost of illegal immigration in the state, Sexton told The Daily Wire. He noted that the monetary costs of illegal immigration for the Volunteer State could be as high as $700 million.
One <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB0793&amp;GA=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> from Lamberth would instruct schools to count how many illegal immigrants are in Tennessee schools. That would allow officials to determine how much taxpayers were paying to educate kids brought across the border illegally. Originally, the proposal would have required parents to pay tuition if they were illegally in the United States or disenroll their kids.
Other bills would increase the frequency of reporting for state agencies to increase tracking of illegal immigrants by both law enforcement and for the state finance report to produce a report on the cost of illegal immigration, drawing from places like schools, prisons, hospitals, and social services.
Another series of bills would require lawful status for nurses, teachers, contractors, and all licensed professions. One from Johnson and Rep. Jason Zachary <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=HB1706&amp;ga=114" target="_blank" rel="noopener">would</a> make it a crime for a person illegally in the country to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Other components would make it a requirement to take the driver’s test in English and make it impossible for an illegal immigrant to register a vehicle with the state.
Sexton noted Republicans were also working on legislation to make sure reciprocal licenses are not issued to those from states where citizenship is not verified.
“If you come from a state that does not verify your legal status, then before you get the reciprocal license, you&#8217;re gonna have to show the state of Tennessee that you&#8217;re here legally and lawfully and if you can&#8217;t, then we&#8217;re not giving your license,” he said.
One bill sponsored by Johnson and Lamberth would make it a crime for someone with a final order of deportation to be in the state of Tennessee.
“If that deportation order has been issued for whatever reason and you&#8217;re out and about, but you set foot in Tennessee, we can arrest you and charge you,” Johnson told The Daily Wire, noting that the proposal was crafted to be in line with the Supreme Court on federal immigration enforcement.
Another <a href="https://capitol.tn.gov/Bills/114/Bill/SB1486.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> would further require local law enforcement to hold illegal immigrants arrested for ICE.
<h4>Cost To Tennesseans </h4>
Thanks to reporting requirements implemented by the legislature last year, district attorneys across the state must produce a report every year on the number of crimes illegal immigrants are arrested and charged with.
The <a href="https://www.tndagc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-PC998-Immigration-Report-Final-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> for 2025 found that there were 11,344 illegal immigrants charged or convicted of a crime during the year. The defendants came from 119 different countries and were charged with a total of 21,648 charges. The report identified  2,183 violent offenses, including 41 murders.
Those crimes are in the minds of lawmakers as they advance their immigration package.
Johnson believes that the immigration package from the General Assembly will “demonstrate to our constituents and to the Trump administration that we welcome your efforts to come in and get violent, illegal aliens out of our communities.”
He noted that presidents have vowed for years to secure the border, but he said Trump was the first one serious about doing it. He said Trump is “serious about it” and “we want to be a good partner with [him] and his administration.”
Sexton said that even one crime by an illegal against a Tennessean is unacceptable.
“You still had thousands of victims in Tennessee who became victims because of an illegal, who came into our country illegally, and they&#8217;re still here,” he said. “One victim by one illegal immigrant is one too many still, so I don&#8217;t care if it&#8217;s a 3% number, a 1% number, or a 10% number. Just one crime committed by an illegal against someone in Tennessee should not happen.”

MixCollage-27-Mar-2026-01-03-PM-3477

Red State Seizes ‘Once-in-a-Generation’ Chance To Crack Down On Illegal Immigration

Donald Trump

Illegal Immigation

Trump Administration

A foreign national from Peru with a history of violent crimes was detained by federal immigration authorities after a Tennessee school official alerted ICE to a child&#8217;s warning that her father might kill her mother.  
Earlier this month, a young girl in Nashville told school officials she feared Luis Meza-Olivera would kill her mother. The school reported the concern to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and federal agents arrested Meza-Olivera on March 14, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. 
Meza-Olivera, who had recently been released from Trousdale Turner Correctional Center in Hartsville, Tennessee, has an extensive criminal record. 
“Luis Meza-Olivera is a monster whose daughter feared he would kill her mother. This criminal alien from Peru should NOT be loose on American streets,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told The Daily Wire. “Thanks to a school official who left a tip for ICE, this individual is now in ICE custody and will enter removal proceedings.”
Bis added that others should follow the lead of the school official and report tips to ICE. 
According to DHS, Meza-Olivera entered the United States on a B-2 tourist visa in 2002 and became a lawful permanent resident in 2010. He is now subject to removal due to his criminal convictions.
Those convictions include aggravated kidnapping, arson, and aggravated assault in Tennessee, as well as a DUI conviction in California. He also faced charges for attempted first-degree murder, vandalism, and child cruelty. 
In 2017, Meza-Olivera was <a href="https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/luis_meza_olivera_cca_majority_opinion.pdf">convicted</a> in Tennessee of two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Court records show the charges stemmed from a December 27, 2015, incident in which deputies in Washington County found a woman “hogtied” in her bedroom with a rope tied around her neck.
“The deputies were dispatched to the victim’s home after her five-year-old son, J.S., called 911 and stated that he was locked in the victim’s bedroom closet. The victim had no memory of what had happened,” court records say. 
Meza-Olivera was arrested days later in Memphis and identified by the victim. Court filings describe multiple incidents of violence, including one in which the victim was locked in her bathroom while a fire raged outside. 
“The victim was unable to open the bathroom door,” court records say. “When firefighters arrived at the farmhouse, they found a rug on fire in front of the bathroom door and the head of an axe wedged underneath the bathroom door to prevent it from opening.”
A Tennessee Court of Appeals later rejected Meza-Olivera&#8217;s attempt to overturn his conviction.

MixCollage-20-Mar-2026-10-23-AM-666

A Child’s Tip To ICE May Have Saved Her Mom’s Life From ‘Monster’

Department of Homeland Security

NASHVILLE—“You go into these positions understanding that your shelf life can be limited and you&#8217;re also always walking on eggs. We all work by the grace of somebody.” 
That was the response from Errol, a law enforcement officer from New York, minutes after listening to outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem address law enforcement from around the country shortly after she was reassigned by President Donald Trump.
At 1:41 p.m., Trump announced on Truth Social that he was moving Noem from head of the Department of Homeland Security to a special envoy for a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere. He said Noem would be replaced by Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin. 
Roughly 25 minutes later, Noem walked onto the stage in a conference room of the Grand Hyatt Hotel off Broadway to talk to law enforcement gathered for the Major Cities Conference organized by the Sergeants Benevolent Association. 
During her speech to law enforcement gathered for the Major Cities Conference, Noem spoke for roughly 35 minutes about the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, efforts to work with local law enforcement, and support for the families of law enforcement officers. She did not discuss her new role or take questions about her replacement at DHS. 
&#8220;Thank you for all that you do to keep people safe and to hold your oath, to be out in our communities, protecting people from public safety threats, but also being an example to our next generation of Americans,&#8221; Noem said.
Noem touted the Trump administration&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in cities like Memphis and its partnership with local law enforcement agencies on immigration enforcement throughout her speech.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Noem just left. No questions about Trump reassigning her from being DHS secretary <a href="https://t.co/tDEDp7fZlt">pic.twitter.com/tDEDp7fZlt</a>
— Leif Le Mahieu (@leif_lemahieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/leif_lemahieu/status/2029643369920774339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Noem took a few questions after her speech from several attendees in front of the crowd of attendees and a few who were lined up by the staff. None of those who asked questions mentioned her replacement at DHS.
In the minutes leading up to the speech, attendees started buzzing as the news broke. One man walked by the section where the press was delegated to in the back and excitedly asked if reporters had seen Trump’s post. 
After the speech, The Daily Wire spoke with multiple attendees from coast to coast. They all praised the Trump administration’s strong support for law enforcement and said they appreciated Noem’s speech. 
Joel, a police officer from Milwaukee, said he thought the speech was “very good” and said he thought Noem did a “great job” as head of DHS. 
“He’s [Trump] done this with other people. I don’t necessarily think that it means that she didn’t do a good job. I just think Trump likes to shake things up,” he said. “Maybe with everything that’s going on, he just wants someone to get a different voice. I saw that he’s going to move her to another position, so it’s not like he’s firing her like people want to put out there and say, because they want to make her look bad.” 
He added that he had a “lot of respect” for Noem and that she still gave the speech despite the news breaking minutes before. 
Stephen, from Central California, said he saw the news break and was wondering if Noem would show up for the speech. 
“I thought she was doing a good job. You get politics at that highest level, which is kind of the nature of it,” adding that it was “pretty rare” for a cabinet secretary to make it the entire presidency. 
Errol from New York said he thought Noem’s speech was “excellent” and said it was nice to hear her speak. 
Noem’s tenure as head of DHS comes to an end after a heated Senate hearing, in which Noem blamed Trump for approving questionable contracts worth over $200 million for deportation ads, which raised <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/docs-show-dhs-specifically-steered-200m-ad-contracts-raising-questions-about-noems-testimony?author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Docs+Show+DHS+Specifically+Steered+%24200M+Ad+Contracts%2C+Raising+Questions+About+Noem%E2%80%99s+Testimony">concerns</a> about potential conflicts of interest.

MixCollage-05-Mar-2026-03-35-PM-3998

Minutes After Trump Replaced Her, Noem Highlights Key Point About Her Work

Kristi Noem

Law Enforcement

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