USDA immediately suspends all federal funding to Minnesota amid fraud investigation

The Trump administration announced on Thursday it is suspending all U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to Minnesota, effective immediately, as a large-scale fraud investigation is underway.

“Enough is enough! The Trump administration has uncovered MASSIVE fraud in Minnesota and Minneapolis—billions siphoned off by fraudsters. And those in charge have ZERO plan to fix it,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote in a social media post.  

The USDA will suspend federal financial awards to the state “until sufficient proof has been provided that the fraud has stopped,” according to Rollins.

“No more handouts to thieves!” she wrote in the post. “Time to drain the Minnesota swamp and put American taxpayers first.”

Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) froze funding for several childcare grant programs in the state, including the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Social Services Block Grant programs.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday said Minnesota tax dollars may have been filtered to terrorist group al-Shabab.

Dem narrative challenged after DHS exposes alleged identity of ‘married couple’ in shooting

As new protests erupt and Democrats express outrage over another shooting involving an immigration agent in Portland, the Department of Homeland Security is setting the record straight on the two victims’ suspected gang affiliation.

In a Friday X post, DHS said that the two victims, Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, are Venezuelan criminal illegal aliens and suspected members of the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua. According to the agency, Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras were shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent after the two attempted to run him and others over with their vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. local time, when Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle and identified themselves as law enforcement, DHS has said.

“Yesterday, two suspected Tren de Aragua gang associates—let loose on American streets by Joe Biden—weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” DHS wrote, explaining that “the agent took immediate action to defend himself and others, shooting them.”

ICE AGENT’S ACTIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING WERE ‘ABSOLUTELY REASONABLE’: EXPERT

Both individuals fled the scene and were later found by Portland Police and administered first aid and taken to a hospital.

According to DHS, Moncada, who was driving the vehicle, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was released into the country by the Biden administration. In addition to his suspected Tren de Aragua affiliation, Moncada has been previously arrested for driving under the influence and unauthorized use of a vehicle, per DHS. He has a final order of removal.

Zambrano-Contreras, the passenger, also entered the U.S. illegally in the El Paso area in 2023. DHS said she was released into the country by the Biden administration. The agency said that Zambrano-Contreras has “played an active role in a Tren de Aragua prostitution ring” and was previously involved in a shooting in Portland.

DHS called reporting that the two injured were a married couple “REVOLTING LIES,” writing in a separate X post that “the two criminal illegal aliens who attacked Border Patrol in Portland are a gang member and his prostitute NOT an innocent ‘married couple.’”

Leading Democrats were quick to condemn federal law enforcement after the shooting on Thursday afternoon.

Following the incident, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called on ICE to “halt all operations” in the city until a full and independent investigation can take place.

PORTLAND AGITATORS CLASH WITH POLICE AFTER 2 SHOT BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENT

“We know what the federal government says happened here,” Wilson said during a news conference Thursday. “There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time has long passed.”

Wilson added that ICE agents and DHS leadership “must fully be investigated and held responsible for the violence inflicted on the American people in Minnesota, in Portland, and in all the communities across America.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek reacted to the shooting, claiming it was “instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration.”

“While the details of the incident remain limited, one thing is very clear: when a president endorses tearing families apart and attempts to govern through fear and hate rather than shared values, you foster an environment of lawlessness and recklessness,” she said.

Kotek said Oregon’s attorney general and other leaders have raised concerns about the excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland, adding that “today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability.”

CROCKETT WARNS OF NATIONWIDE PROTESTS OVER ICE SHOOTING: ‘STATE-SANCTIONED EXECUTION’

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., reacted to the shooting on X, blaming the Trump administration for “inflaming violence.”

“I’m monitoring the first awful reports of two people shot in Portland by federal law enforcement,” Wyden wrote in the post. “I’ll keep you updated, but Trump’s deployment of federal agents in my hometown is clearly inflaming violence–and must end.”

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This comes on the heels of anti-ICE protester Renee Nicole Good being fatally shot in Minneapolis in similar circumstances. The Trump administration has said that while obstructing immigration enforcement operations, Good attempted to run over an ICE agent who fired in self-defense, resulting in Good later being pronounced dead.

Both shootings have led to mass anti-ICE protests across the country and strong condemnations by many leading Democrats.

The internet can’t get enough of ‘happy Trump’ after a head-turning moment at White House

President Trump sported a unique accessory at the White House on Friday, a custom lapel pin depicting what he called a “happy Trump.”

The president wore the small pin, which appeared to be a cartoon-style depiction of Trump in a navy suit and red tie just beneath his customary American flag lapel pin, while meeting with oil and gas executives in the East Room of the White House.

Fox News’ Senior White House Correspondent Peter Doocy noticed the accessory and asked the president about it. 

“I see the American flag lapel pin,” Doocy said. “What is the other lapel pin?”

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Trump explained that the pin was a gift.

“Somebody gave me this. You know what that is? That’s called a ‘happy Trump,'” the president said, holding up the pin. 

“And consider the fact that I’m never happy. I’m never satisfied. I will never be satisfied until we make America great again. But we’re getting pretty close.”

TRUMP PAUSES OIL EXEC SUMMIT TO PEEK AT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM’S PROGRESS

Trump added, “Somebody gave it to me. I put it on.”

The lighthearted moment quickly gained traction on social media, with users on X praising the pin and the president’s sense of humor.

“Trump is wearing a ‘Happy Trump’ pin today,” one user wrote, alongside laughing emoji. “How can you not love this guy?”

“Where can I get a happy Trump pin?” another asked.

“Only our wonderful President Trump! He is wearing a “Happy Trump” pin because he says he’ll never be happy until America is Great Again…but we’re getting close! Hilarious!” a third user wrote.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES VENEZUELA IS TURNING OVER MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL TO US GOVERNMENT “IMMEDIATELY”

The exchange came as Trump hosted nearly two dozen oil executives at the White House Friday to discuss investment in Venezuela after the U.S. military’s successful capture of the nation’s dictatorial president, Nicolás Maduro.

The lineup of oil companies included Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, Continental, Halliburton, HKN, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Trafigura, Vitol Americas, Repsol, Eni, Aspect Holdings, Tallgrass, Raisa Energy and Hilcorp.

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Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum also attended the meeting. 

Dozens reportedly killed, including children, as Iranian regime escalates threats

Iran’s nationwide unrest entered its thirteenth day Friday, as authorities imposed a sweeping internet blackout that largely cut the country off from the outside world and escalated threats of harsh punishment while anti-regime protests spread. Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) reported that at least 51 protesters, including nine children, have been killed, with hundreds more injured. 

At a press conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, President Donald Trump said Iran was facing mounting pressure as unrest spreads across the country. “Iran’s in big trouble,” Trump said. “It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago. We’re watching the situation very carefully.”

Trump warned that the United States would respond forcefully if the regime resorts to mass violence. “We’ll be hitting them very hard where it hurts. And that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”

IRAN ON THE BRINK AS PROTESTERS MOVE TO TAKE TWO CITIES, APPEAL TO TRUMP

Trump said the administration hopes such action will not be necessary. “We don’t want that to happen,” he said. “There have been cases like this where President Obama totally backed down, but this is something pretty incredible that’s happening in Iran. It’s an amazing thing to watch.”

Trump blamed Iran’s leadership for the unrest, saying the regime had mistreated its people.

“They’ve done a bad job. They’ve treated the people very badly, and now they’re being paid back,” he said. “So let’s see what happens. We’ll watch it. We’re watching it very closely.”

Banafsheh Zand, an Iranian-American journalist and editor of the Iran So Far Away Substack, said demonstrations were expected to intensify later Friday despite the communications blackout.

“People are going to be pouring out into the streets,” Zand told Fox News Digital. She described the unrest as unprecedented in the Islamic Republic’s history.

“Absolutely, this is the first time in 47 years. February 12 will mark 47 years that we have this opportunity,” she said. A senior U.S. official told Fox News there had been no change to the U.S. military posture in the Middle East in response to the unrest, adding that U.S. Central Command was closely monitoring developments, particularly around Friday prayers and the regime’s response.

Thirteen days into the protests, the leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Germany issued their first joint declaration on the situation in Iran.

“We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces and strongly condemn the killing of protesters,” the statement said. “The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal. We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, refrain from violence, and uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens.”

TRUMP SAYS US WILL INTERVENE IF IRAN STARTS KILLING PROTESTERS: ‘LOCKED AND LOADED’

The opposition-linked National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said Friday that security forces killed a significant number of protesters overnight in several cities, particularly Tehran and Karaj. The group said repression forces opened fire on civilians in the Fardis area of Karaj, leaving at least 10 young people killed or wounded in one incident—claims that could not be independently verified.

The leader of the NCRI, Maryam Rajavi, told Fox News Digital, “The developments of recent months have proven a fundamental truth: although the regime ruling Iran has been severely weakened and has suffered heavy blows, it will not collapse under the weight of its own failures. Its overthrow will not come from outside Iran, nor will it be delivered by the will of foreign capitals. As I have repeatedly emphasized, change can only be achieved by the Iranian people themselves, through an organized and nationwide resistance that is present on the ground — one capable of confronting a ruthless dictatorship.”

According to Reuters, Iran was effectively isolated after authorities shut down internet access in an effort to curb the demonstrations, sharply limiting the flow of information out of the country. Phone calls into Iran were failing, and at least 17 flights between Dubai and Iran were canceled, according to Dubai Airport’s website. Videos verified by Reuters showed buildings and vehicles ablaze in several cities as unrest intensified.

Footage verified by Reuters from Tehran showed hundreds of demonstrators marching, with at least one woman heard shouting, “Death to Khamenei!” Other chants included slogans supporting the monarchy.

IRANIAN MILITARY LEADER THREATENS PREEMPTIVE ATTACK AFTER TRUMP COMMENTS

In Zahedan, where Iran’s Baluch minority predominates, rights group Hengaw reported that a protest march following Friday prayers had been met with gunfire, wounding several people, according to Reuters.

Iranian state television aired images of clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers were killed overnight, underscoring the increasingly violent nature of the confrontations.

In a televised address Friday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down. Reuters reported that while the unrest has not yet drawn as broad a cross-section of society as some previous protest waves, Iranian authorities appear more vulnerable due to a dire economic situation and the aftermath of last year’s war with Israel and the United States.

IRANIAN PROTESTERS RENAME TEHRAN STREET AFTER TRUMP, PLEAD ‘DON’T LET THEM KILL US’ AMID CRACKDOWN

The protests began late last month with shopkeepers and bazaar merchants demonstrating against accelerating inflation and the collapse of the rial, which lost about half its value against the dollar last year. Inflation topped 40% in December. The unrest soon spread to universities and provincial cities, with young men clashing with security forces.

State television broadcast overnight images of burning buses, cars and motorbikes as well as fires at underground railway stations and banks. In the Caspian Sea port city of Rasht, a state TV journalist standing amid the flames said, “This looks like a war zone – all the shops have been destroyed.”

Reuters noted that Iran’s opposition abroad remains fragmented, with disputed levels of support inside the country for figures such as Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah of Iran. Pahlavi urged Iranians to take to the streets in a social media post, while President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not meet Pahlavi and was “not sure that it would be appropriate” to support him,” he stated in an interview with Hugh Hewitt.

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Despite the unrest, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the likelihood of foreign military intervention was “very low,” adding that Oman’s foreign minister would visit Tehran on Saturday, according to Reuters.

The Islamic Republic has weathered repeated waves of nationwide unrest over the decades, including major protests in 1999, 2009, 2019 and 2022. Analysts say the coming days will test whether the current uprising can sustain momentum under intensified repression — or meet a similar fate.

Masked agitator tells Laura Ingraham she’s ‘getting paid right now’

A tense exchange during anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis took an unexpected turn when a demonstrator said that she was being paid to be there. Fox News host Laura Ingraham was on the ground in Minneapolis as demonstrations erupted nationwide after a woman was killed during a confrontation with federal agents.

“Do you have a job?” Ingraham asked a masked protester outside the Whipple Federal Building.

“I’m [getting] paid right now,” replied the woman, though it was unclear if she was serious.

Before the exchange, the woman had been walking through the crowd shouting, “Shame” and profanity. When Ingraham asked why her face was covered, the woman said it was because her “nose is cold.”

CLINTON AMPLIFIES LEFT-WING ‘MURDER’ CLAIMS IN MINNEAPOLIS ICE SHOOTING WITH SHARP TRUMP REBUKE

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Minneapolis and in other cities after a woman was shot and killed during a confrontation with federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security said Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed after she attempted to “weaponize her vehicle” to hit law enforcement agents.

Minnesota officials have disputed that account, claiming the woman did not pose a threat and calling for an investigation.

Ingraham later said that while some demonstrators appeared peaceful, others became hostile toward the media trying to ask basic questions.

ICE AGENT’S ACTIONS IN MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTING WERE ‘ABSOLUTELY REASONABLE’: EXPERT

“If you actually go into the mix and try to chat with people, you end up getting escorted out. And they kind of nicely, but aggressively, escort you out across their border,” she said.

Ingraham added that when she and her crew later left the area, protesters held up their middle fingers as they drove away.

The Minneapolis Public School District announced it was canceling classes due to “safety concerns” in the city. Several businesses also shut their doors, citing safety concerns or expressing solidarity with demonstrators.

JOHN MULANEY POSTPONES MINNEAPOLIS SHOWS AFTER DEADLY ICE SHOOTING SPARKS UNREST IN THE CITY

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has been accused of inflaming tensions following the shooting. He blamed ICE for the woman’s death and told the agency to “get the f— out” of the city.

“They’re sowing chaos on our streets — and in this case, quite literally killing people,” Frey said on Wednesday.

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The demonstrations come five and a half years after protests and riots broke out in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s death in May 2020.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said that his state’s National Guard is prepared to deploy if necessary.

Shark rips off woman’s arm in deadly Caribbean attack as witnesses watch in horror

A Minnesota woman died on Thursday after a shark chomped her arm off while she was visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Arlene Lillis, 56, of Minnesota, was pronounced dead following the attack, according to a news release from the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department.

Several people called 911 just before 4:30 p.m. Thursday to report that a woman had been attacked by a shark at Dorcsh Beach on St. Croix.

The incident happened about an hour and a half before sunset.

FLORIDA BEACHES CLAIM 9 OF TOP 10 SPOTS FOR MOST SHARK ATTACKS IN AMERICA, NEW STUDY SHOWS

Marine units as well as fire crews and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to police.

Fire officials confirmed the woman lost an arm during the attack and later succumbed to her injuries.

While it was reported there may have been a second victim, St. Croix Rescue searched the perimeter of the beach area and did not find anyone else.

‘SHARKS WON’T DO ANYTHING TO YOU’: FLORIDA SPEARFISHERMAN ATTACKED BY SHARK MINUTES AFTER REASSURING FAMILY

Police have not shared if the shark has been located, or what led to the attack.

“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the victim, and with everyone who witnessed this tragedy,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. wrote in a statement. “We have been briefed on the information known at this time, and we are grateful to the bystanders who acted immediately to render aid and to the first responders who worked urgently and bravely in an effort to save her life.”

Lt. Gov. Tregenza A. Roach also expressed condolences and gratitude to first responders.

‘LARGE SHARK’ KILLS MAN AT AUSTRALIAN BEACH, WITH WITNESS DESCRIBING HEARING SCREAMS OF ‘DON’T BITE ME!’

“On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands, I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and all who are grieving this loss,” Roach wrote. “In moments like this, we are reminded how quickly life can change. We thank the individuals on the scene who stepped forward to help, and we commend our first responders for their swift action and professionalism under extremely difficult circumstances.”

The investigation is ongoing, according to authorities.

About two weeks earlier, a 55-year-old woman vanished off the coast of California, with witnesses telling authorities they had seen a shark breach the water with what appeared to be a human body in its mouth.

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The Pacific Grove Police Department told CBS News the incident was being investigated as a possible shark attack, though the Coast Guard said there was “insufficient evidence” to confirm the case was related to the reported shark sighting. 

Progressive mayor raises eyebrows after quiet sit-down with blockbuster director

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pledged to return power “to the people” when he took office. But just days later, he reportedly held a private meeting with one of the world’s wealthiest filmmakers. 

The New York Times reported that on Monday, Mamdani paid a house call to Steven Spielberg’s Central Park West apartment. The meeting did not appear on the mayor’s public schedule but was later confirmed to the Times by Spielberg’s spokeswoman and City Hall.

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, campaigned on limiting the influence of the wealthy and focusing on everyday New Yorkers. 

MAMDANI PLEDGED TO FIGHT FOR ALL BUT SCRAPPED ORDER JEWISH STUDENTS SAY PROTECTED THEM

The Times noted, “Despite predictions from Mr. Mamdani’s critics that his election would drive wealthy people out of the city, Mr. Spielberg, a billionaire, became an official resident of New York on the same day the mayor was inaugurated, the two people said.”

“We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who thinks they can buy our democracy,” Mamdani said on New Year’s Day after being sworn in by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.

SOCIALIST MAYOR MAMDANI INAUGURATED ALONGSIDE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY

Spielberg is known for blockbuster films such as “Jaws,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Saving Private Ryan,” among others. He’s also a longtime Democratic Party donor. Sources told the the meeting lasted about an hour, had no set agenda, and was not publicly disclosed. 

Mamdani’s predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, had faced scrutiny for his after-hours behavior, including attending nightclubs and restaurants. 

When asked about Adams’ behavior, Mamdani said he would not be seen at the same nightclub as his predecessor and instead would be a “mayor who visits nurses and hospitals after the sun has set, who speaks to E.M.S. workers and bus operators working the late shifts.”

MAMDANI STRONGLY CONDEMNS TRUMP’S CAPTURE OF VENEZUELAN LEADER MADURO AS ‘ACT OF WAR’

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While New York City mayors routinely meet with prominent figures, the private nature of this visit has drawn attention because of Mamdani’s campaign image as an outsider to elite circles.

Man charged after police find over 100 sets of human remains at home, storage unit

A Pennsylvania man is facing hundreds of charges after “over 100 full or partial sets of human and skeletal remains” were allegedly found in his home and a storage unit in a scene a district attorney described as a “horror movie come to life.” 

Jonathan Gerlach, 34, of Ephrata, Pa., was arrested this week by police who were investigating a string of burglarized graves and mausoleums at the Mount Moriah Cemetery on the outskirts of Philadelphia, according to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. 

“Detectives walked into a horror movie come to life… This is an unbelievable scene that no one involved, from myself, to the detectives to the medical examiners that are now trying to piece together what they are looking at — quite literally — none of them have ever seen anything like this before,” District Attorney Tanner Rouse said Thursday. 

“Detectives have recovered an awful lot of bones at this point, and we are still trying to piece together who they are, where they are from and how many we are looking at, and it’s going to be quite some time before we have a final answer,” Rouse added, noting that some of the remains were months-old infants, while others were hundreds of years old.

HUMAN SKULL, OTHER REMAINS FOUND IN BUSHES BY BROOKLYN’S CONEY ISLAND AS INVESTIGATORS WORK TO UNRAVEL MYSTERY

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office said around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, police were conducting surveillance of Mount Moriah Cemetery “when they observed the suspect’s car with numerous bones and skulls in plain view in the back seat of the vehicle.” 

“Gerlach was then seen exiting the cemetery holding a burlap bag, crowbar and other assorted items. The offender was brought into custody where he admitted to stealing approximately 30 sets of human remains,” it continued. 

“Through investigation it is believed that over 100 full or partial sets of human and skeletal remains have been recovered from Gerlach’s home and storage unit in Ephrata. This investigation remains ongoing,” it added. 

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND NEAR TAYLOR SWIFT’S MANSION IDENTIFIED

Gerlach was charged with more than 450 counts, including 100 counts each of abuse of corpse, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

His bail was set at $1 million, with an arraignment hearing scheduled for Jan. 20. 

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“I grieve for those who are upset by this, who are going through this, who are trying to figure out if it is in fact one of their loved ones,” Rouse said. 

Country singer steps back from music career to reset, promises fans he’ll return

Country singer Chase Rice is hitting the brakes after more than a decade of touring.

In an emotional Instagram post, the 40-year-old country star announced he will step away from music after completing a limited run of shows slated for 2026, admitting he has reached a point of exhaustion. 

“Alright everybody, I wasn’t sure whether I was gonna talk about this or not but here we are. I’ve been touring for 13 years and I’ve lived a dream far greater than I could’ve ever expected,” Rice began.

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Rice was quick to shut down speculation that he was walking away for good.

“This isn’t a goodbye thing or anything like that to be clear upfront, although it may feel like that, but I’m exhausted,” he said.

He explained that the nonstop pace has dulled his connection to the stage and to the music that built his career.

“I haven’t been able to be myself on stage in quite a while and really enjoy music and why I got into it in the first place,” he wrote, adding, “I love songs, I love living them, hearing stories from other people, and figuring out how to put that life into music.”

After more than a decade of life on tour buses and backstage hallways, Rice said being on the road has taken an emotional and physical toll.

COUNTRY MUSIC DUO MADDIE & TAE SHOCK FANS AS THEY ANNOUNCE ‘HEARTBREAKING’ SPLIT AFTER 15 YEARS TOGETHER

“After 13 years it’s finally beat me up to the point where I need to step away for a while,” he admitted. “I need to go live life so that I have more real experiences to write down.”

He added, “I won’t be touring this year and it wasn’t even really a decision, it was something I know that I just have to do for myself,” he said, calling the hiatus a major moment in his personal life. “A lot of artists do this all the time, but it’s new for me so it’s kind of a big deal in my life.”

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He also used the post to thank the people who have shared those moments with him behind the scenes. “To my band and crew, I love y’all,” Rice wrote. “You’ve seen me at my worst yet you still love me back like I’ve lived my best.”

Rice ended by addressing fans directly, signaling that while the touring schedule will look drastically different, his passion for music hasn’t faded.

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“To any fans that have followed me along this journey, I love y’all too, you have truly made a dream of mine come true,” he said. “I’ve got a handful of shows this year, but it will not look like anything like what I’ve done the last 13 years of my life.”

Rice shared the announcement alongside a video montage of performance clips, highlighting both the intensity of his touring years and the gratitude behind his decision to step back.

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The singer’s journey to stardom began with a college football career before he pivoted to making music after an injury derailed his hopes of making it to the NFL.

“I’ve lived a very, very blessed life, and a lot of things — some things — just fall in my way, which is awesome,” he previously told Fox News Digital. “At the end of the day, I’ve also worked extremely hard for many of those successes to come my way.”