A woman from Washington, D.C., who lost her grandson to violence in 2017, expressed her admiration for President Donald Trump, highlighting that “he’s as down to earth as my grandma.”
During the Black History Month reception on Wednesday, Trump commented on how Washington, D.C., had become known as a “crime capital” and a “horror show” before his administration took action to address crime. He introduced Foresia Cook, noting her as a “lifelong Washingtonian” who faced the tragedy of losing her grandson to violence.
“We cannot provide opportunities for the next generation without something called law and order. We need law and order,” Trump stated. “You know, Washington, D.C., is great. It was a crime capital. It was a horror show. A year ago it was really dangerous. And now it’s one of the safest cities anywhere in the country.”
He then welcomed Cook, who requested a hug prior to speaking. In her address, she detailed how she and others had “marched” and “rallied” for victims of murder, seeking answers.
Cook mentioned, “No one was listening to me” until Trump had his team “interview” her.
“One of the things I like about him is that he’s as authentic as his grandma,” Cook stated. “I can trust him, and I’m grateful for that because he tells me exactly how he feels and what he thinks. Thank God for this president.”
“No one seemed to care. I’m a murder advocate. I marched. I rallied. I brought together other families in the District of Columbia who lost loved ones and had no answers,” she continued. “We marched, we rallied, but no one listened to me…Democrats…until this Republican sent people to interview me at home. Have you heard anything?”
Reportedly, officials in Washington, D.C., noted a significant decrease in homicides in January 2026 compared to January 2025.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s crime data, as of February 18, there have been roughly eight murders in 2026, marking a 68 percent reduction from the previous year.
In August 2025, Trump declared his intention to “invoke Section 740 of the District of Columbia Autonomy Act,” bringing the Metropolitan Police Department directly under federal control to address city crime.
Additionally, he announced plans to mobilize the National Guard and had previously signed an executive order in March to create the “DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.”
