Mother of Murdered Intern Praises Crime Crackdown
The mother of a Congressional intern who was murdered believes that President Trump’s efforts to combat crime in Washington, D.C., are showing results. She claims that homicide rates have dropped by over 40% in the past year.
According to the Metropolitan Mayors Association, homicides in D.C. fell 43.9% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with only 46 reported murders this year, down from 82 last year.
This significant decrease in violence follows President Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard and assume police control in early August 2025, aimed at restoring order in the capital.
Tamara Jahim, the mother of Eric Tarpinian-Yahim, stated in an interview that the National Guard’s presence is making a noticeable difference. “I think something is working, and having more eyes and ears on the streets is helping,” she remarked. “People I talk to from all walks of life feel safer.”
She recalled that, at the time of her son’s killing, the city seemed plagued by murders almost daily until the arrival of the National Guard.
Jahim also expressed concern for those leaders who oppose military assistance in urban areas, emphasizing, “These are voters. They’re being killed, injured, and living in fear. I think our elected officials need to have more compassion for these families affected by crime.”
Press Secretary Lauren Biss reinforced the administration’s position, stating that under Trump, D.C. has transformed from a crime-ridden area to a safer environment. She highlighted that over 16,000 arrests have been made, targeting major criminals.
Interestingly, the Metropolitan Mayors Association reported a similar decline in homicides in Memphis, Tennessee, which saw a 43.7% drop after the National Guard was also deployed there in 2025. This paints a broader picture of the effect of such interventions on urban crime.
Jahim hopes her son will be remembered as a “kind, humble soul” who believed in collaboration to find solutions for pressing issues in America.
