Discussion on Crime in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Fox News host Lawrence Jones asked Maryland Governor Wes Moore about his criticisms of President Donald Trump’s administration regarding crime in Washington, D.C. Trump recently stated he would declare a “public safety emergency,” send in the National Guard, and tackle violent crime in the capital. During the segment on “Fox & Friends,” Jones highlighted the issues facing Black Americans in D.C., but Moore countered that deploying the National Guard wasn’t necessary to address the crime problem.
Jones expressed curiosity about Moore’s critical stance toward the administration’s approach. “Is this a process you dislike?” he probed. “They’re attempting to allocate resources in the city, just like you.”
In response, Moore emphasized that serious conversations about crime could happen, but he maintained there wasn’t a need to escalate the issue with National Guard deployment. Jones shot back, “It’s like another war now. More lives have been lost in these cities than in overseas conflicts. Isn’t it reasonable to have them deployed there?” He pointed out that local leaders, including police officers and the city’s mayor, agreed and felt the situation was dire.
The D.C. Police Union announced their support for Trump’s proposal to reinforce the metropolitan police. However, Moore expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a military presence. “I don’t need someone to explain the pain in communities… Violence is a persistent issue across various neighborhoods. What residents need is not military personnel but individuals who can genuinely help them feel safe. Our national guards aren’t suited for these tasks.”
On another note, some local officials pointed to a 35% reduction in violent crime rates in 2024 as a counter to Trump’s concerns, although they acknowledged that this statistic excluded certain offenses. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s statistics primarily featured homicides, sexual abuse, assaults with dangerous weapons, and robberies, but left out aggravated and felony assaults.
