President Donald Trump and the White House are trumpeting what they said is new data showing a significant decline in violent crime across major U.S. cities last year, including a sharp reduction in murders.
According to the report cited by the White House, the murder rate in the nation’s largest cities fell to its lowest level since at least 1900, marking the largest one-year decline on record. The administration said the data also show decreases in rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults, as well as fewer shooting deaths, the lowest total since 2015.
The White House said additional indicators of public safety improved last year, including a decline in on-duty law enforcement officer deaths to their lowest level in 80 years, along with reductions in traffic fatalities and overdose deaths.
Administration officials attributed the declines to the president’s public safety agenda, which they said emphasizes support for law enforcement, aggressive crime-reduction strategies, and enhanced coordination across federal agencies. The White House said the approach has focused on major cities, particularly those governed by Democrats, where officials say federal efforts have contributed to improved conditions.
The administration has also pointed to immigration enforcement and border security measures as part of its broader crime strategy, arguing that removing individuals accused of violent crimes has helped reduce offenses in urban areas.
Critics have questioned the administration’s claims, arguing that crime trends are influenced by a range of factors, including local policing strategies, economic conditions and broader social changes.