Crime Rates at Historic Lows, White House Claims

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt recently stated that homicides in major U.S. cities have dropped to their lowest levels since at least 1900. This decline, she noted, comes alongside increased federal arrests, gang crackdowns, and deportations, all part of President Donald Trump’s commitment to “restore law and order.”

During a press briefing on Thursday, Levitt shared new data indicating that Trump is “overwhelmingly delivering on his promises.” According to a study from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), homicide rates in large American cities have, at least as of 2025, significantly decreased. “This represents the largest single-year drop in homicides on record,” she noted.

The decrease is connected to efforts in securing borders and heightened actions against violent criminals, she reiterated. Levitt emphasized Trump’s unwavering commitment to addressing illegal immigration, despite pushback from Democrats.

The CCJ report anticipated that by the end of 2025, homicide rates could fall to around 4.0 per 100,000 residents. This would mark a historic low based on law enforcement data stretching back to 1900. The report suggests that cities reporting this data experienced a 21% reduction in homicides between 2024 and 2025, translating to 922 fewer homicides. Notably, cities like Denver, Washington, D.C., and Omaha reported drops of about 40%.

Other serious crimes also saw substantial declines in the same cities. Robberies decreased by 23%, carjackings by 43%, aggravated assaults by 9%, and auto thefts by 27%.

However, the CCJ did note that their findings stem from a limited sample of cities and preliminary police data, which may evolve over time. They highlighted that the report reflects crime trends rather than attributing the drop to any singular policy.

Levitt insisted that the statistical evidence supports the administration’s approach. She pointed out that under Trump in 2025, the FBI ramped up arrests for violent offenses by 100% compared to the year before. Furthermore, from Inauguration Day 2025 to January 20, 2026, over 67,000 arrests were made, which is a staggering 197% increase from the same timeframe in previous years.

Levitt referenced crime trends in Washington, D.C., noting that homicides were down 62% and auto thefts down 53% recently. She attributed these declines to Trump’s leadership and his focus on empowering law enforcement, pushing back against media skepticism. Levitt argued that the rise in violence seen under Democratic leadership is an outcome of intentional choices made in policy.

She concluded by stating that prioritizing the rights of violent criminals over the safety of innocent citizens creates a climate of fear. This situation, she insisted, is a direct result of what she described as “pro-crime liberal politicians” failing to maintain public safety.