Fact-check · Aug 17, 2026 · Donald Trump
“When I got here, it was a very dangerous capital... Now I can say you can walk down the street... But if you were here a year and a half ago, the numbers were horrible. The crime stats, the murders, the death, the drug dealing, everything was a”
TRUE
What the record shows
DC homicides fell 32% in 2025 vs 2024 (187 to 127); 41% decline H1 2026 vs H1 2025. 2024 violent crime down 35% from 2023, lowest in 30+ years. However, DC Inspector General found systemic crime classification weaknesses 2013-2023.
Sources
- What is the crime rate in Washington, DC? | USAFacts
- Crime in Washington, DC: What You Need to Know - Council on Criminal Justice
- Tracking D.C. homicides: Maps and data on the District’s violent crime - The Washington Post
- District of Columbia | Violent Crime in D.C. Hits 30 Year Low | United States Department of Justice
- District Crime Data at a Glance | mpdc
- Fact-checking Trump's claims about homicides in DC | PBS News
From: President Trump Greets Lifeguard Ryder Williams
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