Trump’s Considerations for Crime-Fighting Initiatives
On Thursday, Stephen Miller, the White House Policy Deputy Chief of Staff, made comments on Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle,” pointing to President Donald Trump’s interest in visiting cities grappling with serious crime issues across the U.S.
Trump had previously declared the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., on August 11, hinting that he might later extend this to cities like Chicago and New York. During the broadcast, Laura Ingraham noted that she had encouraged Trump to explore these cities and pressed Miller for insights on the president’s intentions. Miller indicated that this is certainly a topic weighing on Trump’s mind, stating, “The president believes our cities deserve to be safe, our parks should be beautiful, and our schools exceptional. Achieving this involves reclaiming our neighborhoods from drug issues, homelessness, and crime.” He emphasized that this vision is plausible, pointing to improvements made in Washington, D.C.
Miller also raised a significant concern regarding illegal immigrants in California, citing that around 30,000 individuals are currently in local custody and may soon be released, a situation he attributed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s reluctance to hand them over to immigration authorities. He warned that these individuals could be returning to streets where they may commit serious crimes.
In light of rising crime in D.C., Trump’s decisions reflected a desire to address safety concerns, especially after numerous high-profile incidents, including attacks on a former government worker and the shooting of a Republican intern.
Data shared by local police and media claims indicate a 35% drop in crime rates in D.C. for 2024, although this figure does not include certain violent offenses. There have been allegations surrounding a D.C. police commander accused of manipulating crime statistics, which raises questions about the integrity of reported data.
Interestingly, amid political pushes against Trump’s strategies, a recent Harvard Cap/Harris poll revealed that 54% of registered voters deem his crime prevention initiatives in D.C. as justified and necessary.
In Chicago, local leaders countered Trump’s approaches. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference expressing their opposition to the deployment of federal troops. Johnson highlighted improvements in the crime statistics, stating that murders have decreased by 25% compared to 2023, with data showing 474 murders over the past year versus an annual average of 722 from 2021 to 2023.
Turning to New York City, Democrats there have been cited for suggesting the use of the National Guard to aid in crime reduction. Although there have been claims of overall crime decline, some statistics, particularly regarding underreported rapes, have complicated the narrative. Recent reports indicated an increase in rape cases compared to the previous year, while other violent crime categories like murders have indeed shown a downward trend.
Additionally, legal analyst Janine Piro remarked that a federal intervention in Washington, D.C. resulted in significant law enforcement actions, including over a thousand arrests and the confiscation of illegal firearms.
