The Washington Post seemed to overlook the recent drop in crime as it examined President Donald Trump’s approach to crime in Washington, D.C., in an article on Tuesday.
Following Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to the capital in August, D.C. reported no murders for nearly two weeks, and there was a notable decline in other violent offenses compared to earlier rates. The Washington Post’s report focused instead on the timeline of Trump’s initiatives, discussing various lawsuits against his administration and a particular incident with federal agents.
In one instance, the Post mentioned a confrontation involving federal agents and Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel. In another, it seemed to imply that federal agents arrested a delivery driver without providing sufficient context.
On August 11, Trump announced a federal acquisition aimed at enhancing crime fighting efforts in D.C. Within two weeks of this order, carjackings dropped by 96% compared to the same timeframe in 2024, while robberies decreased by 68%, and murders were down by 67%.
Initially critiquing Trump’s measures, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser later signed an order on September 2, directing local police to collaborate with federal authorities. While the Post noted Bowser’s recognition of the crime drop, it failed to include specific statistics.
Crime in D.C. has gained attention due to several high-profile incidents, including the killing of Eric Tarpeniyatim, an intern for Kansas Republican Ron Estes, who was fatally shot on June 30. Additionally, two employees of the Israeli Embassy were killed in an attack in May.
Just days before the crackdown announcement, Edward Coristine from the Government Efficiency Bureau was injured while trying to prevent a carjacking. Moreover, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Angie Craig was attacked at her D.C. apartment in February 2023.
On September 9, Attorney General Pamela Bondi tweeted about 57 arrests made that day, including a juvenile charged with attempted murder, and noted the seizure of eight illegal firearms.
In a fact sheet released on August 11, the White House provided statistics on crime in the capital, noting there were 29,348 reported crimes the previous year, which included 3,469 violent incidents, 1,026 assaults with dangerous weapons, 2,113 robberies, and 5,139 car thefts. D.C. holds the fourth highest homicide rate in the nation.
Despite claims from Democrats regarding a reported decrease in violent crime, data indicated a decline of about a third. Allegations have surfaced involving manipulation of crime statistics, leading to the suspension of an MPD official. The Trump administration is currently investigating these claims of inaccurate reporting.
Since the crackdown began in D.C., there have been 2,177 arrests and 222 firearms seized, as noted in a recent post by Attorney General Bondi.
