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FBI Arrests Over 350 Suspected Child Sex Abuse Offenders in Major Nationwide Crackdown

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On Tuesday, the FBI revealed a significant breakthrough in a nationwide crackdown on child sexual abuse, announcing the arrest of over 350 individuals linked to such offenses.

Dubbed Operation Iron Pursuit, the initiative successfully identified more than 200 child victims. This extensive operation was a collaborative effort involving all 56 FBI field offices across the country, alongside several U.S. Attorneys’ offices.

Among those rescued was a 10-year-old from Utah, who was reportedly taken to Cuba by a transgender parent. According to the FBI, the child had initially been told they were going on a camping trip with the parent, their partner, and another child. Instead, the group traveled through Canada and Mexico before reaching Cuba.

The child’s biological father, Rose Inessa-Ethington, allegedly transported the child to Cuba with his partner, Blue Inessa-Ethington, without the consent or knowledge of the child’s mother. The family raised significant concerns about the child’s welfare, noting the child, born male, identified as female—an identity they believe was influenced by Rose, as stated in an official press release from the FBI.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaking next to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at a press conference.

During a press briefing at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on April 28, 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel, alongside Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, addressed the public on the operation’s outcomes. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

The FBI reunited the child with his mother after fears that his transgender parent shuttled him to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery.

The transgender parent and the transgender partner who assisted the parent were arrested and charged with International Parental Kidnapping.

“Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest in this FBI’s work with our interagency partners to crush child abuse networks all over this country,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Last year through Operations like Relentless Justice, Enduring Justice, and Restore Justice, we set records identifying over 6,300 child victims, taking 300+ human traffickers off the streets, and more. President Trump’s law enforcement team is eliminating these criminal actors at a historic pace and we’re not slowing down,” Patel concluded.

The FBI said those arrested during Operation Iron Pursuit are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).

James Strahler II, 37, pleaded guilty in early April to numerous charges related to his creation of AI-generated explicit material of both adults and children. Strahler pleaded guilty to cyberstalking after prosecutors alleged he used over 100 web-based AI models, telephone calls, voicemails, text messages and web postings to harass victims.

Strahler created over 700 images of both real victims and animations and uploaded them to a website dedicated to child sex abuse material, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Ohio.

He is the first person in the U.S. to be convicted under the Take It Down Act, a landmark bill which criminalizes the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and deepfake AI content that was championed by First Lady Melania Trump.

First lady Melania Trump speaking while President Donald Trump listens in the White House Rose Garden

First lady Melania Trump speaks as President Donald Trump listens during the signing of the “Take It Down Act” in the White House Rose Garden in Washington on May 19, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Another alleged abuser caught in the roundup was New York’s Alber Rodriguez, a 48-year-old who the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy and taking photos and videos of the abuse.

“As alleged, Alber Rodriguez sexually abused a 12-year-old child and recorded that abuse—conduct that is as cruel as it is criminal,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a press release.

“This Office has zero tolerance for those who prey on children.  Protecting New Yorkers, especially our youngest and most vulnerable, is our priority.  If you exploit a child in this District, we will find you, we will charge you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.  We will not stop until those who endanger our children are taken off our streets and held fully accountable.”

Anthony Greene, 37, of Pennsylvania, was also arrested in April as part of the sweep and charged with a litany of crimes. Prosecutors charged Greene by indictment with two counts each of manufacture of child pornography; use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor, and attempt to entice a minor, to engage in sexual conduct; and receipt of child pornography, and one count each of possession of child pornography and possession of a firearm by a felon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania wrote in a statement.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaking at a news conference at the Justice Department

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau will produce a report “in short order” after reviewing multiple state-level investigations at the White House’s request to determine whether any are connected. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaking at a news conference at the Department of Justice

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche criticizes reporters during a press conference on April 21, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

The FBI said Iron Pursuit follows three other successful operations last year.

According to the bureau, 205 children were rescued and 293 offenders are arrested during Operation Relentless Justice, which concluded in December 2025. Operation Enduring Justice, which ended in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. The FBI said 115 children were rescued and 205 child sex abuse offenders were arrested as a result of Operation Restore Justice, which concluded in May 2025.

“Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” Patel added. “Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.”

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Friends Star Lisa Kudrow Settles the Iconic ‘On a Break’ Debate Between Ross and Rachel

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Lisa Kudrow recently shared her perspective on a long-standing debate among “Friends” fans.

The actress, best known for her role on the iconic ’90s sitcom, addressed the contentious issue of Ross and Rachel’s relationship dynamics.

For years, viewers have been divided over whether Ross (played by David Schwimmer) was in the right to sleep with another woman after he and Rachel (portrayed by Jennifer Aniston) had declared they were “on a break.”

While appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” this Monday, Kudrow hesitated, saying, “I’m afraid now to bring it up.”

Jimmy Fallon, the show’s host, pressed on, asking, “What is your take? Were they on a break?”

“Well, no. But it’s beyond that,” Kudrow explained. “It’s beyond break or not— he was a bad boyfriend.”

The audience immediately erupted in applause.

“Oh, you agree! Oh, I feel better,” the “Comeback” actress gushed. “Thank you. Thank you for this. Thank you, all of you.”

Kudrow further explained her reasoning.

“We did the reunion just like five years ago… we were all so like, ‘They were on a break.’ Like, ‘Rachel, that hysterical shrew, not letting him sleep with someone and won’t get back together,’” the “Romy and Michele” actress recalled. “She shouldn’t have gotten back with him because he was horrible.”

When Fallon asked Kudrow if Schwimmer knew how his guest felt, she stayed quiet.

“He knows now,” the late night host quipped.

Back in 2020, Schwimmer gave his own take on the situation, telling Fallon at the time, “It’s not even a question. They were on a break.”

For her part, while promoting an apparel line for charity in 2021, Aniston argued: “For the record… we were SO not on a break.”

In Season 3, episode 16, titled, “The One with the Morning After,” Rachel accused Ross of cheating on her, to which he denied.

Ross claimed he thought they had broken up when he hooked up with someone else and famously stated, “We were on a break.”

The line went on to be used many times throughout the series.

“Friends” ran for 10 seasons from 1994 until 2004 and along with Kudrow, Aniston and Schwimmer, the sitcom starred Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc.

Perry died in October 2023 at age 54 from the “acute effects of ketamine.” His cause of death was ruled as accidental.

In 2024, Kudrow revealed to the Hollywood Reporter she started rewatching the NBC series to “celebrate” Perry.

For years, the sitcom star was unable to watch “Friends,” calling it too “embarrassing” to see herself act.

“If I make it about Matthew, then that’s OK,” Kudrow expressed. “And it’s just celebrating how hilarious he was — and that is what I want to remember [about him].”

Despite disagreeing with Schwimmer’s take on his relationship, Kudrow added that she was “laughing out loud” at how funny her co-stars were.

“I’m blown away by Courteney Cox. I’m blown away by [Jennifer Aniston],” the actress mused. “Matthew, obviously, is just uniquely hilarious. No one ever knew that cadence or comedic rhythm before him. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious. And David Schwimmer, too. Sometimes I even laugh at what I’ve done.”

Justice Delivered: FedEx Driver Faces Death Penalty for Shocking Athena Strand Murder

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A jury has sentenced Tanner Horner, the FedEx driver responsible for the abduction and murder of young Athena Strand, to death. This verdict comes as a response to the chilling events that unfolded in November 2022 in Paradise, Texas.

On that fateful day, 34-year-old Horner was on his delivery route when he seized the opportunity to kidnap seven-year-old Athena from her family’s home. After placing her in the back of his truck, a desperate struggle ensued before he tragically ended her life.

Facing the weight of his actions, Horner admitted guilt, pleading guilty to charges of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping just hours before his trial was scheduled to commence in April.

The jury, evenly composed of men and women, needed just under three hours to reach their decision, concluding that the severity of Horner’s crimes warranted the ultimate penalty.

The jury, which was made up of an even split between men and women, took two hours and 50 minutes to deliberate on whether Horner deserved to die. 

Horner was emotionless as the execution sentenced was announced on Tuesday.  

After the sentence was handed down, Athena’s uncle said to the killer in an impact statement: ‘I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena’s story.’

In the closing arguments on Tuesday, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton called seven-year-old Athena a ‘warrior’ for withstanding the traumatic ordeal before her untimely death in the back of the FedEx van. 

Horner, 34, will be put on death row for murdering and kidnapping seven-year-old Athena Strand (pictured). It took the jury just under three hours to decide on the sentence

Horner, 34, will be put on death row for murdering and kidnapping seven-year-old Athena Strand (pictured). It took the jury just under three hours to decide on the sentence

Horner had been delivering a box of Barbies that were due to be Strand's Christmas present when he took the youngster, strangled her and dumped her body in a creek. The two are pictured in his FedEx truck following the kidnapping

Horner had been delivering a box of Barbies that were due to be Strand’s Christmas present when he took the youngster, strangled her and dumped her body in a creek. The two are pictured in his FedEx truck following the kidnapping

Tanner Horner pleaded guilty to the horrendous crime, just before his trial was going to begin. He is pictured on Tuesday, before he found out that he would be sentenced to die

Tanner Horner pleaded guilty to the horrendous crime, just before his trial was going to begin. He is pictured on Tuesday, before he found out that he would be sentenced to die

The DA showed the jury the shoes Horner was wearing on the day of the murder – dropping them onto a table in front of the people who were in charge of determining the killer’s sentence. 

Stainton said: ‘This is what it took [pointing at shoes] to beat the life out of her.’

‘If you want mercy, if you want someone to consider giving you life in prison when you gave no life to her, when you gave no mercy here,’ he added. 

He said that Horner was the reason why Texas still has the death penalty and ‘proof why there is evil in society and we can never turn back.’ 

The killer will now be moved to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit in West Livingston, Texas – where inmates on death row are held. His execution date has not yet been set. 

Jurors, some of whom were sobbing in court, had to listen to excerpts from more than an hour of video and audio that captured Athena’s final moments. 

Previous evidence showed that Horner called Athena ‘sweetie’ and tried to make small talk by asking her age, where she goes to school, her teacher’s name and whether her teacher was nice when he put her inside his abduction van.

Harrowing audio revealed after the trial showed Athena questioning her kidnapper: ‘Is this your house?’ Horner replied: ‘No, I don’t live around here’. 

‘Where are we going? What are you doing?’ the little girl asked a few moments later. Horner answered: ‘We are going to hang out for a while.’

The killer then ordered the child to remove her shirt and shushed her when she questioned why. She started to cry and asked for her mother.

Pictured: Horner's reaction as he was given the death penalty on Tuesday for the murder of the seven-year-old

Pictured: Horner’s reaction as he was given the death penalty on Tuesday for the murder of the seven-year-old

Strand was snatched by Horner as he dropped off a package containing a Christmas gift for the youngster ¿ a box of Barbie dolls

Strand was snatched by Horner as he dropped off a package containing a Christmas gift for the youngster – a box of Barbie dolls  

The box of Barbies that Athena was supposed to receive on Christmas

The box of Barbies that Athena was supposed to receive on Christmas

Tanner Horner during questioning by investigators following the murder of Athena Strand

Tanner Horner during questioning by investigators following the murder of Athena Strand

Wise County District Attorney James Stainton holds the shoes Tanner Horner wore when he killed Athena Strand

Wise County District Attorney James Stainton holds the shoes Tanner Horner wore when he killed Athena Strand

‘Are you a kidnapper?’ Athena asked through her tears and pleas to go home. ‘Why are you doing this?’

Horner replied: ‘Because you are pretty. You know that?’ 

Strand’s body was found around nine miles away from her home, two days later. 

Jurors also had to listen to heart-wrenching testimony from both of Strand’s parents during the trial, which was fast tracked to the sentencing phase after Horner pleaded guilty. 

Medical examiner Dr Jessica Dwyer ruled Athena died because of blunt force injuries with smothering and strangulation.

The medical examiner’s report said Athena’s body did not show signs of sexual trauma.

But Jacqueline Ferrara, a former forensic analyst with the Texas Department of Public Safety, testified at Horner’s trial that male DNA had been found on swabs from Athena’s rape kit.

Horner initially told authorities that he accidentally hit Athena with his van and then strangled her in a panic.

Prosecutors called that an ‘absolute lie’ and said Athena was not hurt before he abducted her, with footage showing Athena conscious and seemingly physically unharmed inside the truck. 

An arrest warrant said Horner took investigators from the Wise County Sheriff’s Office to where he had left Athena’s body.

Horner also told investigators that an alter ego of his, Zero, ‘kind of took over’ after he failed to calm Athena down.

Trump Revives Presidential Fitness Test: Encouraging American Youth to Embrace Health and Liberty


On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to elevate the status of youth sports and fitness across the nation. Alongside this, he issued a memorandum to reinstate a modernized version of the Presidential Fitness Test Award.

Back in July 2025, Trump had already taken steps by signing an executive order aimed at integrating the Presidential Fitness Test into national events and celebrations. This competition, originally established by President Dwight Eisenhower, was phased out in 2013 during President Barack Obama’s administration.

At the signing, Trump was seated at the resolute desk, surrounded by key figures including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Joining them were several student athletes who underscored the revival of American athletic traditions and the importance of encouraging physical fitness among young people and citizens nationwide.

FIRST ON FOX: President Trump is officially bringing back the Presidential Fitness Test Award, restoring the competitive school-based program that was phased out in the Obama years.

The president is expected to be joined by several high-profile athletes as well as members of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition while signing the memo in the White House.

Trump first signed an executive order to reestablish the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test last year, with today’s memorandum paving the way for the administration to restore the test and awards at all American schools.

Trump sat at the resolute desk, flanked by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and a number of student athletes, who helped to spotlight the return to American athletic traditions and to promote physical fitness as a norm among youth and all Americans.





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Australians Face Financial Strain as Economic Indicators Show Downward Trend

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The Reserve Bank‘s third successive rate hike hit mortgage holders like a kick in the guts and there is little light to be found at the end of the tunnel when digging deeper into Governor Michele Bullock’s comments and experts’ analysis.
Whether it’s her blunt admission that “Australians are poorer” or one analyst’s assessment that “everything is moving in the wrong direction”, good news is thin on the ground.

If the conflict in the Middle East drags on longer than anticipated, Australians may soon find that any glimmer of hope is actually a financial burden rapidly approaching.

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock didn’t hold back when blaming “this war on the other side of the world”. (Louie Douvis)

In a candid statement, Bullock attributed much of the inflationary strain to the “war on the other side of the world,” which compelled the central bank to make a decisive 8-1 vote to raise the cash rate to 4.35 percent, matching its peak following the pandemic.

During a press conference after Tuesday’s announcement, she highlighted the situation as “a real income shock for Australia and the world.”

“Australians are experiencing financial hardship due to this surge in oil, energy, and other commodity prices,” she explained.

“We are simply poorer now, and there is no avoiding that. The situation is significantly more challenging,” she concluded.

A quick look at the numbers underlying the bank’s reasoning explain some of the doom and gloom.

The RBA board’s Statement on Monetary Policy predicts growth falling to an “anaemic” 1.3 per cent by the end of the year and basically staying there until the middle of 2028, as the unemployment rate ticks slowly towards 5 per cent. 

Yet it still decided to hit mortgage holders with the only blunt tool at its disposal to tackle inflation, which it now expects to hit 4.8 per cent in June, 0.6 percentage points higher than pre-war predictions.

Oxford Economics head of economic research and global trade Harry Murphy Cruise said the forecast “makes for bleak reading” and left the RBA with “little choice but to hike today”.

“Inflation and unemployment are forecast to peak higher, while spending, investment and overall GDP growth will be weaker,” he said. 

“In essence, everything is moving in the wrong direction.”

Credit card from the big four banks: ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac.
Three of the big four have wasted little time in passing on today’s interest rate hike to customers. (Dominic Lorrimer)

The bad news doesn’t stop there. The cash rate is expected to hit 4.7 per cent by December and more or less stay there.

All of those predictions are based on the bank’s “baseline” assumption that the war ends “shortly”, the “Strait of Hormuz is reopened soon” and shipping returns to normal by the end of the year.

But that’s just a prediction. The words “uncertain” or “uncertainty” appear 48 times in the document.

The RBA also modelled two worse scenarios based on a longer closure of the strait and potential damage to energy infrastructure driving higher-than-expected energy price rises, which could see GDP 0.8 per cent lower than the baseline and both inflation and unemployment above 5 per cent.

“The longer the strait remains closed, the fewer options the board will have; a prolonged closure would force the RBA’s hand to hike rates multiple times this year to tame inflation and inflation expectations,” Murphy Cruise said.

While Bullock was quick to acknowledge the impact the war had already had and would likely continue to have, stressed it was “not the sole reason”.

While Bullock was quick to acknowledge the impact the war had already had and would likely continue to have, stressed it was “not the sole reason”. (Louie Douvis)

“We had an inflation problem before this,” she said.

“People often say to me … you must have a better thing than the interest rate. We don’t. It’s all we have, and we know that affects different people differently. 

“We know that, but it’s the only thing we have to address inflation, and the more important thing in that comment was about the rising costs of all those things. That’s why we have to stop this happening.

“We have to stop inflation because that’s – yes, the mortgage cost is hurting them, but it’s all those other things that are hurting people, the rise in prices of groceries, the rise in price of fuel, all those sorts of things are hurting people.”

Some analysts, such as Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis, even think the RBA is being too optimistic when it comes to the risk of inflation.

“Our own assessment, however, is that there is a bit more near-term inflation to come, both from a higher oil price than future markets imply and greater, more drawn-out second-stage pass-through to other prices, especially in areas such as home-building costs,” she wrote.

She also expressed surprise Bullock appeared to give the green light to businesses to pass on increased fuel and fertiliser costs to customers.

“This stood in contrast to the discussion in the media conference about avoiding pass-through to wages,” she said.

“At several points, the Governor emphasised that the energy price shock ‘makes us all poorer’ and there was nothing that could be done about that.

“In our view, it would have been more helpful to the RBA’s own inflation fight if the Governor had encouraged firms that had the capacity to absorb those cost increases to do so.”

The governor also had a message for Treasurer Jim Chalmers in case he was thinking of dipping his hand into the coffers in next week’s federal budget to help out families struggling to afford fuel and mortgage repayments.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers responds to the Reserve Bank's decision to raise the cash rate in May.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers responds to the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise the cash rate in May. (Nine)

“All I’m saying is that the extent to which government make up the shortfalls for households by giving them more money, it makes it harder to dampen demand,” Bullock said.

Chalmers said his budget next week, which will focus on savings rather than spending, will help bring inflation down.

“We intend to play a helpful role, not a harmful role, in the fight against inflation,” he said.

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Gainesville Resident Detained for Allegedly Driving Over Man’s Foot with Truck

Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities have taken Charlotte Tsianina Shaw, aged 41, into custody following accusations that she drove a truck over a man’s foot.

According to an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy, the incident occurred around 4:43 p.m. on May 4. Shaw and the victim were engaged in a dispute after Shaw attempted to present the victim with eviction documents, which he claimed were unofficial and not properly filed in court. As the victim stood by the driver’s side of Shaw’s truck to point out the irregularities, Shaw allegedly ran over his foot by reversing the vehicle, then drove forward, and finally backed out of the driveway while the victim cried out for assistance.

The deputy noted that the victim sustained significant injuries, including deep cuts on the inside of his leg, and his foot was visibly swollen and discolored. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for urgent medical care.

After being read her Miranda rights, Shaw reportedly stated that she could not recall the incident of driving over the victim’s foot.

Shaw has been charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm. She has two misdemeanor convictions (non-violent) and two criminal traffic convictions. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $30,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 


Florida Preteen Faces Serious Charges for Alleged Threat to Teacher and School Safety

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A troubling incident involving a 12-year-old girl from Florida has led to serious legal consequences. The young student is now facing felony charges after reportedly using a classmate’s account to issue a terrifying threat against her elementary school.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office has charged the girl with making written or electronic threats to kill and the unlawful use of a two-way communications device, both of which are considered felonies.

Authorities were alerted over the weekend when detectives received a report concerning a disturbing written threat sent to a teacher at Louise S. McInnis Elementary School. The message not only targeted the teacher but also included a menacing promise to “shoot up” the school on its final day, according to the sheriff’s office.

Florida girl, 12, being led to jail

The gravity of the threat has prompted swift action, underscoring the seriousness with which such warnings are treated by law enforcement. The implications of these charges are severe, reflecting a broader concern over school safety and the responsibility of addressing threats with the utmost urgency.

In addition to threatening the teacher, the sender said they were going to “shoot up” the school on the last day of class, according to the sheriff’s office.

While the message was sent from a student account belonging to a 12-year-old boy, detectives determined it was sent by his ex-girlfriend, who had his login information, officials said.

The 12-year-old was seen on video having her ankles shackled before being led into a jail cell.

The 12-year-old was seen on video having her ankles shackled before being led into a jail cell. (Volusia Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

The sheriff’s office posted a video of the arrest on Facebook, garnering more than one million views.

In the video, deputies could be seen leading the handcuffed, green-haired tween with a septum piercing from a patrol car to the jail.

Interior view of a jail cell with metal bars and a bench

She was then shackled and escorted into a jail cell, where she was left sitting on a bench.

The elementary school did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The Artistic Inspirations Behind the Most Innovative Looks at the 2026 Met Gala

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The 2026 Met Gala turned its iconic red carpet into an impromptu art history showcase, captivating onlookers with its fusion of fashion and fine art.

This year’s theme, “Costume Art,” was inspired by the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition and set a dress code that urged attendees to interpret “Fashion Is Art.” Many guests embraced the challenge, drawing inspiration from renowned artworks and even pieces displayed within the walls of the Met itself.

Attendees showcased a wide array of artistic influences, from Renaissance masterpieces to vibrant Pop Art sculptures, effectively transforming the evening into a living, breathing gallery tour.

Among the standout appearances was a supermodel whose ensemble paid homage to Raffaele Monti’s 19th-century sculpture, “Veiled Vestal.” The model’s look was a breathtaking blend of foam and latex prosthetics, masterfully crafted by artist Mike Marino, giving the impression of a sculpture stepping off its pedestal.

Heidi Klum, inspired by Raffaele Monti’s “Veiled Vestal

The supermodel arrived looking like a museum piece come to life, channeling Italian sculptor Raffaele Monti’s 19th-century “Veiled Vestal” with prosthetics made from foam and latex, thanks to Mike Marino.

Klum told Vogue she found the reference while browsing the Met’s galleries: “I was like, ‘I want to become her!’”

Madonna, inspired by Leonora Carrington’s “The Temptation of St. Anthony. Fragment II”

The Queen of Pop arrived with a coven in a black Saint Laurent lace gown, pirate ship headpiece and sheer gray cape held aloft by seven blindfolded attendants.

The theatrical entrance drew from Surrealist painter Leonora Carrington’s 1945 oil on canvas, a dark, dreamlike scene of temptation and transformation.

Plus, Madonna even carried a French horn and wore a dark wig.

Kendall Jenner, inspired by ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace’

The supermodel tapped Zac Posen to pay tribute to the second-century Greek sculpture displayed in the Louvre. Posen started by reshaping a white Gap T-shirt, then built the custom GapStudio gown from tea-dyed jersey, chiffon and organza until it captured the statue’s wind-caught movement.

Anok Yai, inspired by the “Black Madonna

Model Anok Yai took her inspiration from the “Black Madonna,” the religious icon found in Catholic churches across Europe. Yai arrived in prosthetic hair and golden tears, telling Vogue she wanted to “look like a walking statue.”

“In the climate that we’re living in right now, we need hope,” she explained. “I feel like being the Black Madonna in a Trump world is going to send that message.”

Emma Chamberlain, inspired by Van Gogh and Munch

Vogue’s special correspondent wore a custom hand-painted Mugler gown that required more than 40 hours of painting — plus four days of drying time.

Artist Anna Deller-Yee applied the brushwork, drawing from the palettes of Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch.

Hunter Schafer, inspired by Gustav Klimt’s “Mäda Primavesi

The “Euphoria” star stepped out of Klimt’s 1912 portrait of a young girl in a flower-strewn dress — a painting that hangs in the Met’s permanent collection.

Her custom Prada gown featured the same empire waist and rosette appliqués, but with strategic tears revealing blue floral silk beneath.

Kylie Jenner, inspired by “Venus de Milo”

The Kylie Cosmetics founder wore a custom Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry “falling ballgown” — a skin-toned bustier with a voluminous embroidered cream skirt appearing to slide off her body. The visual echo of the Venus de Milo’s draped marble was hard to miss.

Gracie Abrams, inspired by Gustav Klimt’s ‘Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I’

The “That’s So True” singer was gilded head to toe in a gold Chanel gown referencing Klimt’s shimmering 1907 portrait.

Colman Domingo, inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s “Pez Dispenser”

The actor wore a pleated chiffon jacket with a harlequin-inspired motif inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat’s crowned dinosaur motif from “Pez Dispenser” (1984). Domingo wrote on Instagram that the symbol represents “a duality of power and vulnerability” and “the artist’s self-styled ‘king’ status.”

Audrey Nuna, inspired by Jackson Pollock

The singer wore “The Pigment” from Robert Wun’s fall/winter 2025 couture collection, a black-and-white coatdress with more than 15,000 jet black Swarovski crystals forming a spatter print that brought to mind Pollock’s paint-flinging technique.

Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Claire Foy, inspired by John Singer Sargent’s “Madame X

The honorary co-chair channeled one of the evening’s most-cited artworks: Sargent’s 1884 portrait of socialite Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau. Her custom midnight blue Schiaparelli by Daniel Roseberry gown featured a dangling pearl-and-crystal strap — a nod to the painting’s original fallen strap, which caused such a scandal at the Paris Salon that Sargent was forced to repaint it.

The “Crown” alum offered a second take on the Sargent portrait in a dramatic black gown — a custom Erdem x Barbour creation — with a loose chainlink strap by designer Erdem Moralıoğlu.

Jordan Roth, inspired by Jean-Léon Gérôme’s “Pygmalion and Galatea

The Broadway producer wore Robert Wun for a look drawn from Gérôme’s depiction of the myth in which a sculptor’s creation comes alive under his touch. “That transformation — along with my curiosity whenever I look at classical sculpture of what it would be like to live inside it — were the inspirations,” Roth wrote on Instagram.

Naomi Osaka, inspired by Alexander Calder

The tennis star’s two-part Robert Wun look evoked the kinetic sculptures of Alexander Calder.

Tony Awards Nominations Revealed; Keanu Reeves Overlooked

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The Tony Award nominations were revealed on Tuesday morning, sparking excitement and surprise across the theater world.

Among the top contenders, “The Lost Boys” and “Schmigadoon!” each secured an impressive 12 nominations. In a notable milestone, June Squibb made history by becoming the oldest actor to receive a Tony nomination at the age of 96. Meanwhile, Danny Burstein set a new record as the most-nominated male actor in the history of the Tony Awards.

However, not everyone shared in the celebratory mood, as several high-profile snubs left fans and critics alike talking.

Lea Michele, known for her portrayal of Florence Vassy in the recent Broadway revival of “Chess,” was notably absent from the list of nominees. Similarly, Bobby Cannavale, Neil Patrick Harris, and James Corden did not receive nominations for their performances in the revival of “Art.”

Fans of “Bill & Ted” were disappointed to see Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter overlooked for their reunion in the revival of “Waiting for Godot.” Additionally, Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson were also left out of the running for their roles in “The Fear of 13,” a drama based on a real-life prison story.

Laurie Metcalf was overlooked for Little Bear Ridge Road. 

The Tony Awards will be handed out June 7 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City during a telecast hosted by Pink. The awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

Lea Michele was not nominated for a Tony on Tuesday morning; seen in April

Lea Michele was not nominated for a Tony on Tuesday morning; seen in April 

Keanu Reeves was left off the list for his work on Waiting For Gadot

Keanu Reeves was left off the list for his work on Waiting For Gadot

 The Lost Boys, an adaptation of a 1987 teen movie vampire thriller, and Schmigadoon!, an adaptation of an Apple TV series that gently mocks Broadway musicals, were followed by a revival of Ragtime, a big, soaring musical celebrating early 20th-century America, with 11 nominations.

Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller´s masterpiece that looks at the unraveling of the American Dream, starring Nathan Lane, nabbed nine nods.

Twenty-four shows got at least one nomination across the 26 Tony categories, a revival of Chess, the Cold War-set love triangle between two chess grand masters and the woman who loved both, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which reimagines the 1980s classic feline musical into a celebration of queer ballroom culture.

‘I’m over the Jellicle moon about this!’ said Bill Rauch, who secured his first Tony nomination for co-directing the reimagined ‘Cats.’ ‘I´ve spent my whole career trying to connect the dots between classics and the place and time we´re living in, and so to have `Cats´ have this life on Broadway right now just really feels like an affirmation of everything I´ve been trying to do for decades.’

The best new musical crown will be between ‘The Lost Boys,’ ‘Schmigadoon!,’ ‘Titanique,’ a camp musical comedy that reimagines the 1997 megahit movie ‘Titanic,’ and ‘Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York),’ an opposites-attract rom-com set during a New York City weekend.

Ali Louis Bourzgui, nominated for best featured role in a musical playing a seductive vampire in ‘The Lost Boys,’ took a bite on why his show was so well received: ‘I think that people, including myself, love a villain that they can care for,’ he said. ‘Some of my favorite performances are technically villains on paper, but the person who´s playing them actively makes them a full 3D person that you can root for. I think that´s the most interesting kind of character.’

Adrien Brody (pictured) and Tessa Thompson were both snubbed for The Fear of 13, a true-life prison drama

Adrien Brody (pictured) and Tessa Thompson were both snubbed for The Fear of 13, a true-life prison drama

The best new play nominees are the John Lithgow-led ‘Giant,’ which explores accusations of antisemitism against children´s author Roald Dahl; ‘Liberation,’ about a consciousness-raising women´s group in 1970s Ohio that won the Pulitzer Prize for drama on Monday; ‘The Balusters,’ a wry comedy about a small-town neighborhood association that descends into chaos over whether to install a stop sign; and ‘Little Bear Ridge Road,’ about a struggling writer who returns to his rural hometown to settle his dead father´s estate.

Playwright Mark Rosenblatt conceived of ‘Giant’ in 2018 and started writing it in 2020, and it seems remarkably relevant in 2026, following the fallout from the war in Gaza and the spotlight on antisemitism in America.

‘The ideas in the play, the concerns in the plays, the pain in the play, is perennial,’ he said. ‘But I could never have imagined that it would, when it finally was produced, would be playing against the backdrop of what´s happening now.’

‘The Fear of 13,’ the true story of a man who spent more than two decades on death row, didn’t get any acting nods, despite starring Adrien Brody and Tessa Thompson in their Broadway debuts. Former ‘Glee’ star Lea Michele will still be seeking her first Tony nomination after having missed out for her work on ‘Chess.’

L.J. Benet, left, and Ali Louis Bourzgui appear during a performance of The Lost Boys

L.J. Benet, left, and Ali Louis Bourzgui appear during a performance of The Lost Boys

The Broadway cast of The Lost Boys seen during a performance in New York in March

The Broadway cast of The Lost Boys seen during a performance in New York in March

Squibb is now the oldest Tony-nominated actor in history, besting the record set by Lois Smith, who was 89 when she was nominated in 2020 for ‘The Inheritance.’ Squibb’s Broadway resume reaches back to a stint in the original production of ‘Gypsy’ in 1960 with Ethel Merman.

Burstein becomes the most-nominated male actor in Tony history with nine nods after his work in ‘Marjorie Prime,’ beating the record set by Jason Robards. Kelli O´Hara got her ninth career nomination for a revival of the comedy ‘Fallen Angels,’ tying her with Rosemary Harris for third on the all-time acting nominations list.

A trio of actors from the hit TV series ‘The Bear’ struck out in their Broadway debuts this season – Ayo Edebiri in a revival of ‘Proof’ and Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach who both appeared in ‘Dog Day Afternoon,’ an adaptation of Sidney Lumet´s 1975 bank robbing drama. Daniel Radcliffe secured a nomination for ‘Every Brilliant Thing,’ a one-person show that explores the antidotes to depression.

The best play revival category is stacked with well-received work: ‘Every Brilliant Thing’; ‘Death of a Salesman’; ‘Oedipus,’ a modern retelling of Sophocles´ classic tragedy set on election night in a modern campaign office; ‘Becky Shaw,’ Gina Gionfriddo´s dark comedy about a newlywed couple who decide to play matchmaker; and ‘Fallen Angels,’ Noël Coward´s alcohol-fueled competition between two upper-crust ladies over the attention of a former lover.

Rose Byrne, the ‘If I Had Legs I´d Kick You’ star who plays one of those upper-crust ladies in ‘Fallen Angels,’ secured a nomination for best actress in a play, becoming the 22nd actor in history to be Oscar- and Tony-nominated in the same year. Her co-star, Kelli O´Hara, also secured a nod, as did Lesley Manville for ‘Oedipus,’ Susannah Flood for ‘Liberation’ and Carrie Coon for her work in her husband Tracy Letts’ play ‘Bug.’

Lithgow, who has two Tonys already, will get his third if he beats leading actor in a play nominees Lane, Radcliffe, Mark Strong in ‘Oedipus’ and Will Harrison from ‘Punch,’ which looks at restorative justice following the death of a man from a physical punch.

Christiani Pitts, left, and Sam Tutty appear during a performance of Two Strangers

Christiani Pitts, left, and Sam Tutty appear during a performance of Two Strangers

David Manis, left, and John Lithgow appear during a performance of Giant

David Manis, left, and John Lithgow appear during a performance of Giant

Best actor in a musical nominees include Joshua Henry and Brandon Uranowitz, both from ‘Ragtime,’ Sam Tutty in ‘Two Strangers,’ Nicholas Christopher in ‘Chess’ and Luke Evans from ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’

On the women´s side, the nominees are: Caissie Levy from ‘Ragtime,’ Marla Mindelle for ‘Titanique,’ Christiani Pitts from ‘Two Strangers,’ Sara Chase from ‘Schmigadoon!’ and Stephanie Hsu in ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’

Others who missed out this year include Bobby Cannavale, Byrne’s partner, who starred in a revival of ‘Art’ with Neil Patrick Harris and James Corden that was snubbed by the nominators. ‘Bill & Ted’ stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winters reuniting for a revival of ‘Waiting for Godot,’ were also left off, although Brandon J. Dirden was nominated for a featured role.

The Tony Awards will be handed out June 7 at Radio City Music Hall during a telecast hosted by Pink. The awards will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

Last year´s show – hosted by ‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo – drew 4.85 million viewers to CBS, its largest broadcast audience in six years, according to Nielsen.

Trump Revives the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, Reintroducing Annual Fitness Test in U.S. Schools

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WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced the revival of the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, signaling a renewed emphasis on reintroducing an annual fitness evaluation in American schools.

This initiative harks back to the Presidential Fitness Test, a staple in public education for many years until it was replaced during President Barack Obama’s administration with a program that prioritized long-term health over competition. Last summer, Trump signed an order to reinstate the fitness test, originally established in the 1950s.

“We’re bringing it back,” Trump declared during a ceremony in the Oval Office, where he was joined by children and professional athletes. “My administration is committed to upholding America’s storied athletic heritage and instilling the values of excellence and competitiveness in future generations.”

The classic fitness test evaluated students through various exercises, like a 1-mile run and sit-ups, with those surpassing the 85th percentile for their gender in each test earning the Presidential Physical Fitness Award. However, the specifics of the reinstated test have not yet been disclosed.

Trump presented the award from his desk, surrounded by Cabinet members such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Housing Secretary Scott Turner. They were accompanied by children who participated in sports like football, volleyball, hockey, and golf.

The test is being made mandatory for students at 161 schools located on U.S. military installations, Hegseth said in the Oval Office. He encouraged other schools across the country to follow.

President Donald Trump walks with kids during exercise drills on the south lawn of the White House, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Washington.
President Donald Trump walks with kids during exercise drills on the south lawn of the White House, Tuesday, May 5, 2026, in Washington.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

“We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or any other aspect of your life,” Hegseth said. “The idea that competition is bad is the beginning of decline of a nation.”

Trump, an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, emphasized the importance of balancing both physical and mental fitness, saying that it’s “all about the mind” at top levels of competition. He praised the athletes at the White House event while joking about his own fitness regimen.

“I work out so much, like about one minute a day, max – if I’m lucky,” Trump said.

Trump said he would be signing the first copy of the new award on Tuesday. After the Oval Office event, the kids were invited to the South Lawn to play sports to a soundtrack of songs like “YMCA” and “Eye of the Tiger.” Trump joined outside as the kids putted at a green, kicked soccer balls and threw a baseball with pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

The president connected the initiative to Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Speaking alongside Trump, Kennedy said it was “very unfortunate” that Obama discontinued the test and cited increased obesity among American children.

“We need to teach people how to win and how to lose and how to process victory and defeat,” Kennedy said.

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