Trump DC Crime Crackdown: President Sends National Guard Despite Falling Crime Rates

Trump DC Crime Statement and Federal Takeover Announcement

President Donald Trump is painting a grim picture of the nation’s capital, describing Washington, D.C., as a city overrun by lawlessness — even though official data suggests otherwise.

On Monday, Trump and members of his cabinet gathered at the White House to announce a federal takeover of Washington, D.C., along with the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops.

According to Trump, this move is necessary to “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor … and worse.” He claimed the city is “overtaken by violent gangs, bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people.”

Washington DC Crime Statistics Show a Different Reality

While Trump described a dystopian “hellscape,” Washington DC crime statistics tell another story. Data from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) shows overall crime in 2025 is down compared to 2024:

• Violent crime: down 26%
• Property crime: down 4%
• Overall crime: down 7%

A recent U.S. Department of Justice report also reveals that violent crime in the city has reached a 30-year low.

Trump specifically mentioned murder rates, suggesting residents fear getting “shot and killed” on their way to buy a newspaper. However, MPD data shows homicides are down 12% this year.

Trump’s Cabinet Stands Behind the Crime Narrative

During the announcement, Trump was flanked by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro.

Despite the statistical data contradicting his statements, Trump remained firm in his depiction of Washington, D.C., declaring:

“We’re not gonna let it happen anymore. We’re not gonna take it.”