DNC Conference Advises Against Emulating Trump’s Crime Tactics
At the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Summer Conference, speakers emphasized that Democrats should steer clear of adopting President Trump’s aggressive stance on crime.
Insha Rahman, vice president of the Vera Institute’s advocacy division, described Trump’s approach to crime in Washington, DC as a potential “big opportunity” for the Democratic party. She urged attendees to engage with the crime issues that resonate with voters. To illustrate her point, she presented results from a recent poll conducted by Bella’s political advocacy group that highlighted the types of crime that Americans find most concerning.
Rahman pointed out that gun violence (36%) topped the list, followed by issues like homelessness and public drug use (34%), robbery or assault (34%), opioid and fentanyl abuse (31%), retail theft (29%), carjacking (29%), and immigration-related crimes (28%).
“What is Trump focusing on?” Rahman questioned rhetorically. “Immigration crime, carjacking—it’s all very sensational and, frankly, misguided.”
She continued, “Most Americans are really more worried about mental health issues and the visible homelessness around us, alongside other factors that can lead to unpredictable incidents.” The overarching message was clear: don’t fall into the trap of discussing these less critical issues.
From her perspective, nearly a third of Americans voiced concern about Trump’s and the GOP’s tendency to hyperfocus on certain crimes, but she implored Democrats to resist the temptation to dwell on them. “Stay away from mentioning immigration crimes or carjackings, which aren’t top of mind for many people,” she advised.
Rahman also suggested that discussions should center around meaningful policies, promoting ideas such as “cashless bail” instead of merely ramping up policing efforts.
She emphasized that the goal should be to counteract the Republican agenda, which seems to thrive on fear-mongering related to crime, not to create a Democratic counter-narrative amid ongoing GOP criticisms.
Moreover, she advised against presenting local crime statistics if they indicate a decline—especially since Trump frequently emphasizes such declines as achievements. “Don’t shy away from discussing crime,” Rahman stated. “We need to be clear about what’s improving and why our communities are getting safer.”
At the conference, speakers such as Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott were identified as effective representatives of a “safety and solution” narrative in the conversation surrounding crime.
Lastly, Rahman echoed a sentiment from Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who implied that the focus on DC crime crackdowns seemed less about safety and more like a distraction from other pressing issues. “Crime in the capital appears to be relatively low,” Raskin suggested.
