In a recent press conference, US President Donald Trump heightened his criticism of the security situation in Washington, D.C.. He claimed that the homicide rate in the US capital is now higher than in several notorious Latin American cities, including Bogotá, Mexico City, and Lima. Trump's comments come as part of a larger conversation about urban violence and public safety across the country.
During the press conference held on Monday, Trump announced plans to place the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. Additionally, he stated that 800 National Guard troops would be deployed to assist in what he described as an effort to “take back the city.” Trump emphasized the alarming statistics, stating, “The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, or some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth. It’s much higher.”
Trump's initiative aims to “liberate” Washington, positioning it within a broader strategy to regain control of cities he believes are threatened by violence. He pointed out that homicide rates in Washington far exceed those in cities like Brasília, Panama City, and San José.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser responded to Trump's announcement, calling the decision to federalize the police department and deploy the National Guard “alarming and unprecedented.” While she expressed a degree of predictability regarding Trump's actions, she stressed that this move would not be taken lightly, emphasizing the infringement on the city’s autonomy.
In her own press conference, Bowser reassured residents that the local government continues to function in a manner that instills pride among citizens. She has since met with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is set to coordinate federal efforts with the city as directed by Trump. Bowser clarified that “nothing has changed” in the organizational structure of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Trump's assertions about crime rates are supported by a graph corresponding to 2024, which indicates a homicide rate of 27.5 per 100,000 residents in Washington. This figure purportedly places it above comparable cities such as Bogotá (15), Panama City (15), San José (13), Mexico City (10), Lima (7.7), and Brasília (6.8). Various official statistics from reputable organizations, including Mexico’s INEGI and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Panama, corroborate Trump's claims regarding Washington's elevated murder rate compared to several Latin American capitals.
However, a closer examination reveals a more complex reality. According to CNN journalist Daniel Dale, crime in Washington has experienced significant declines since a peak in 2023, when the city recorded 274 homicides — the highest number in over two decades. In 2024, the number of murders fell to 187, and preliminary reports for 2025 indicate this downward trend is continuing.
Crime expert Jeff Asher, cited by Dale, reported a 34% decrease in homicides in Washington when comparing the first half of 2025 to 2023. Furthermore, the violent crime rate for 2024 was noted to be the second lowest since 1966. A preliminary analysis from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department also supports the observation that overall crime rates have decreased in 2025, paralleling the trends seen in other major US cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
