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In a remarkable turn of events, Washington, DC is experiencing an 11-day stretch without reported murders amid a controversial federal takeover of local policing operations. President Trump, who ordered the National Guard deployment and federal control of DC police, has touted these results as evidence of his administration’s effectiveness in combating crime in the nation’s capital.
However, fact-checking of the President’s claims reveals significant discrepancies between his statements and the actual crime data for the District.
While celebrating the current murder-free period, Trump incorrectly stated it had been “many years” since Washington had experienced a similar stretch. Public records show the city had three separate murder-free periods earlier this year alone, including a 16-day stretch from February 25 through March 12.
The President’s assertion that there is “NO CRIME AND NO MURDER IN DC” also fails to align with official statistics. While crime has indeed decreased during the federal intervention—with total reported incidents dropping approximately 28% compared to the week before the takeover—the District’s police database recorded 725 reported crimes since federal forces assumed control on August 12. Last week alone saw 366 reported offenses, including 33 violent crimes.
Trump’s claim that DC crime was at an “all-time” high before his intervention contradicts historical data. The District recorded 187 homicides in 2024, significantly below the peaks of the early 1990s when the city, with a smaller population, experienced more than 470 homicides annually in both 1990 and 1991. While DC did see a spike to 274 homicides in 2023—its highest since 1997—violent crime had already begun receding in 2024 and early 2025, following national trends.
The President’s assertion that “95% of the people” in DC support the federal takeover similarly lacks factual basis. A Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted August 14-17 found 79% of DC residents opposed the intervention, with 69% strongly opposed. Only 17% expressed support. This opposition aligns with the District’s political composition, where about 90% of 2024 voters supported Harris compared to 6% for Trump.
The federal takeover represents an unprecedented assertion of executive power over the District’s traditionally local police operations. While the Constitution grants Congress exclusive jurisdiction over DC, federal intervention in local policing at this scale has raised questions about the limits of presidential authority and local autonomy.
Criminal justice experts note that short-term crime reductions could stem from multiple factors beyond the increased law enforcement presence, including seasonal variations, existing crime reduction initiatives, or changes in reporting practices. The Justice Department is currently investigating allegations from the police union that the District’s police department may have manipulated crime statistics, though experts maintain that even accounting for potential reporting issues, current crime levels remain well below historical highs.
As the federal operation continues, civil liberties organizations have expressed concerns about potential overreach, while supporters point to the crime reduction as justification for the extraordinary measures. The situation highlights the unique status of Washington, DC, which lacks the full self-governance afforded to states despite having a population larger than Vermont and Wyoming.
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7 Comments
While the current murder-free period in DC is positive, the President’s broader statements about crime levels seem to contain inaccuracies when compared to the official data. Fact-checking is crucial for providing a balanced perspective on these issues.
The decrease in reported crimes during the federal takeover is notable, but Trump’s claims about the lack of any crime or murders don’t seem fully aligned with the data. It will be important to monitor the situation as local control is restored.
The President’s comments about DC crime seem to contain some factual inaccuracies. While the current murder-free stretch is positive, his broader assertions don’t match up with the official statistics. Careful fact-checking is crucial for understanding the true situation.
Interesting to see the drop in reported crimes during the federal intervention in DC. However, the President’s statements about no crime or murders appear to be exaggerated based on the data. We’ll need to follow this closely as local policing resumes.
It’s interesting to see the drop in reported crimes in DC during the federal intervention. However, the President’s claims about no crime or murders seem exaggerated and at odds with the actual data. We’ll have to see if these trends continue as local policing operations resume.
While the current murder-free period is noteworthy, the President appears to have made some inaccurate statements about the crime history in DC. Fact-checking is important to provide a balanced perspective on these issues.
The reduction in reported crimes in DC during the federal takeover is noteworthy, but the President’s claims about the lack of any crime or murders don’t seem fully supported by the facts. Careful analysis of the data is important for understanding the true situation.