U.S. Vice President JD Vance, joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaks to members of the National Guard, at Union Station in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 20, 2025. REUTERS/Al Drago/Pool
President Donald Trump reassured Americans that the U.S. capital would be fully secured under his presidency. Last week, he sent in the National Guard as well as federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and ICE to nab anyone who looked suspicious. But despite being surrounded by federal agents, one reporter had her wallet stolen.
Producer Leah Vredenbregt wrote on X that on Wednesday, she was at Union Station in Washington, D.C., as Vice President JD Vance and Pete Hegseth met with National Guard soldiers at the Shake Shack to hand out a few free burgers.
"I covered JD Vance’s trip to Union Station today. He wanted to show how safe Union Station is because of a federal takeover. At no point was I less than 4 feet from a federal agent. And yet, my wallet disappeared and was immediately used at a liquor store."
After a number of questions to confirm the truthfulness, Vredenbregt replied, "Yes, this happened. The wallet was IN MY HAND when I filmed the arrival, 5 minutes later, it was no longer in my hand."
She also uploaded the alert she got on her phone moments after locking down her credit card.
Trump claimed that a "friend" told him he was going out to dinner more often because he and his wife felt safer. Data collected for restaurants in Washington, D.C. shows that other residents don't feel the same.
Restaurant reservations are down 30% according to OpenTable data, WUSA reported this week.