The homicide rate in major U.S. cities is at a 125-year low. Homicides plummeted by over 20% last year, marking the largest, fastest drop ever recorded. Across the country, many cities have seen historic drops in crime, and overall, violent crime is now at or below pre-pandemic levels.
While there is always more work to do, this data is to be celebrated and our progress is to be commended – which is why we expect President Trump to once again try to take credit in his State of the Union. But let’s be clear: This is happening in spite of Trump, not because of him.
Over the course of Trump’s first year in office, instead of working to reduce crime, Trump and Republicans in Washington have pushed unprecedented cuts to critical government and community-based public safety programs our cities rely on. This Administration has recklessly attacked our cities, undermining them at every turn, and lied about public safety to push a political agenda. We’ve seen communities thrown into chaos, families torn apart, and lives lost.
While mayors would welcome a federal partner who works with them, and not against them, the Trump Administration has done nothing to help. In fact, it has actively made our cities less safe. So let’s be clear about who is fighting for safer communities — and who is standing in the way.
The progress we have seen reflects focused, local leadership. Cities led by Democratic mayors, not this president, have made historic investments in public safety — funding law enforcement, investing in prevention, and building modern-safety infrastructures. We’re deploying data-driven strategies, and strengthening partnerships between police and communities. Despite the chaos in Washington, we’re remaining focused on what matters most: keeping our communities safe.
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