The FBI has arrested 31,000 violent gang members.
Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Checked
- Sources
- 1 contradict4 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 40%
The Dan Bongino ShowSep 16, 2026
The claim matches the wording of the post, which said 31,000 violent gang members were arrested by the FBI. The only primary source, Patel's September 2026 Senate testimony, instead says the FBI 'disrupted over 31,000 gangs and criminal enterprises,' a different measure from arrests of gang members.
What was said
… With the help of our great partners, since the beginning of the Trump administration, the FBI has arrested 54,000 violent criminals. That's up 90% from the 18 month year period prior to that. That's making America safe. 31,000 violent gang members have been arrested by the FBI. That's up 30%, making America safe. We've removed, the FBI has removed 3,258 kilograms of fentanyl. That's, we have located, found, and identified 11,081 child victims. We have arrested 5,072 child predators and human traffickers. That's up 13%. …
The Dan Bongino Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. Patel's Senate testimony (primary) reports the FBI 'disrupted over 31,000 gangs and criminal enterprises, a 30% increase,' not 31,000 gang members arrested, so the official record uses a different metric.[2]
Context. The AP7AM report says the FBI made 'arrests of more than 31,000 violent criminals and gang members,' but it is low-credibility and repeats the White House framing, so it is not independent corroboration.[4]
Context. In the September 16, 2026 oversight hearing, Senator Kennedy asked whether the FBI had arrested over 31,000 violent gang members and Patel answered 'Yep.' This repeats the claim's own framing and is circular rather than independent evidence.[5]
Context. No independent fact-checker or audit in the sources examined the arrest figure, so the source record does not confirm or refute it as an arrest count.[1][3]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 primary, 2 not rated
- 1FBI Articles | Page 2snopes.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2STATEMENT OF KASHYAP PATEL DIRECTOR FEDERAL BUREAU OF ...judiciary.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: contradicts
- 3Gang Newsfbi.gov · primary source · cited for: context
- 4US violent crime posts record fall: FBI - AP7AMap7am.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 5FBI Oversight Hearing 9/16/26rev.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- The number of violent gang members arrested by the FBI is up 30%.True
- The FBI has arrested 54,000 violent criminals since the beginning of the Trump administration.Mixed
- The number of violent criminals arrested by the FBI is up 90% compared to the 18-month period prior to the Trump administration.Mixed
- The FBI has arrested 5,072 child predators and human traffickers.True
- The FBI has arrested 4,260 foreign terrorist organization-related aliens.Can’t tell