In a bold statement following his National Guard takeover of Washington, D.C., former President Donald Trump has proclaimed the capital to be a “crime free zone.” In a recent post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump commended D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for her collaborative efforts in “eliminating” violent crime. He contrasted her actions with those of other leaders, asserting that they focus on justifying crime rather than eradicating it.
“Her statements and actions were positive, unlike others such as Pritzker, Wes Moore, Newscum, and the Chicago Mayor with a mere 5% approval rating,” Trump stated. “Instead of working with us to completely ELIMINATE crime, they spend all their time justifying it. We have achieved this in Washington, D.C., which is now a CRIME FREE ZONE,” he added. Trump also expressed a desire for other cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and the “crime-drenched city of Baltimore,” to reach similar levels of safety.
Despite Trump’s declarations, the latest crime statistics from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department tell a different story. In the past week alone, there were 442 crimes reported in the district, including 50 violent crimes: one homicide, 23 incidents of assault with a dangerous weapon, 24 robberies, and two cases of sex abuse. Additionally, nearly 250 thefts were documented during this period.
Trump initiated his so-called crime crackdown in D.C. on August 11, which involved taking control of the city’s police department and deploying National Guard troops, along with agents from the FBI and ICE, into the streets. “We needed to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor,” Trump remarked, emphasizing the necessity of these actions.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has been actively celebrating the impact of these law enforcement efforts on social media platform X, sharing updates about the number of arrests made. On Labor Day, she reported, “In Washington, D.C., 71 additional arrests have been made — including another member of the Tren de Aragua gang — and 9 more illegal firearms are off the streets.”
While the statistics indicate hundreds of crimes reported in D.C. over the past week, it’s notable that as recently as January, the Department of Justice highlighted that violent crime in D.C. was at its lowest in over 30 years. Nevertheless, Trump has announced plans to expand this federal law enforcement strategy to other major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland.
Trump emphasized his commitment to addressing crime in other cities, stating, “We have other cities that are also struggling with crime. We’re not going to let it happen. We will not lose our cities to crime. Our efforts will continue to expand, starting with D.C., and we will clean it up quickly.”
In addition to crime-related posts, Trump shared a series of lengthy updates on Truth Social regarding various topics, including tariffs in India and the efficacy of Covid vaccines. He remarked, “It is crucial that the drug companies justify the success of their various Covid drugs,” highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of these vaccines.
As the situation in Washington D.C. unfolds, the contrasting narratives between crime statistics and Trump’s declarations raise questions about the effectiveness and implications of federal interventions in urban crime management.
