7 Things Christians Need to Know about Trump's Federal Crime Crackdown in D.C.
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By Elizabeth Delaney, Crosswalk.com
It's been just over two weeks now since President Trump issued an executive order "Declaring A Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia." The order noted that, "…rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government, and forces the diversion of critical public resources toward emergency response and security measures."
The executive order has resulted in mobilizing about 800 National Guard troops, both Army and Air National Guard. They're activated on Title 32 status to participate in the Safe and Beautiful Task Force. About 200 at a time lend their support to federal law enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department in areas such as monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and officers, and other tasks.
"They will remain there until law and order has been restored in the district, as determined by the president – standing as the gatekeepers of our nation's capital, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said during a Pentagon press corps meeting, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Here are 7 things you may not know about this order.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tasos Katopodis/Stringer
1. Manipulated Crime Data in Washington, D.C.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is speaking out about a "massive scandal" in connection to Washington, D.C.'s crime statistics.
"We've uncovered [and are] in the process of uncovering a massive scandal in Washington, D.C. with the doctoring of crime stats, and the Department of Justice under the attorney general is leading the effort to uncover this," Miller said in the Oval Office, according to WND.
"But when we ultimately share the results, it will stun you the extent to which, even though D.C. had the worst crime in America, honestly measured it dramatically understated how bad it was."
Miller went on to note that, "Murders and homicides were reported as accidents instead of murders. This is how severe the manipulation of the crime data has been in the city, and it will all be uncovered, and it will all be brought to light."
2. Former Officer Blames Politicians, Not Police
Former Washington D.C. police officer Christopher Cooper painted a stark picture of what life is like for D.C. police officers with an article he wrote for The Federalist: "D.C.'s crime problem is not the fault of its police officers, whose force is understaffed by nearly 1500 officers. Violent crime was so rampant and occupied so much of our shifts that we hardly had time to stop for bathroom breaks. Blame the inept D.C. politicians. Mayor Muriel Bowser is more concerned with sending her children to camp 11 hours away in Martha's Vineyard than protecting D.C. residents."
Cooper went on to note that, "The people protesting the federal takeover of D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department are not the black people who live in D.C.'s crime-ridden neighborhoods. Rather, they are the left-wing white and black D.C. middle class (including the mayor) who are often spared the fear that most of D.C.'s black residents live with daily."
Cooper claims that people who have been living in fear are presently "welcoming the help of the federal government."
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Andrew Leyden/Stringer
3. D.C. Crime Numbers for 2024
The homicide rate for 2024 and 2025, which is actually presently recorded, is still stunning. In 2024, the homicide rate was recorded as 27.3 per 100,000 residents. That was the fourth highest in the entire United States, and it was almost six times higher than New York City. It was also higher than Atlanta, Chicago, and Compton, according to WhiteHouse.gov.
In addition, Washington, D.C.'s murder rate is approximately three times higher than Islamabad, Pakistan, and 18 times higher than the communist country of Havana, Cuba.
The total amount of crimes reported in Washington, D.C., last year was 29,348.
4. Rising Crime in D.C. in 2025
As for 2025, almost 16,000 total crimes have been reported so far, and car theft in Washington, D.C. is over three times the national average. These numbers make Washington, D.C., one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
Sadly, many D.C. residents feel unsafe when it comes to reporting crime.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Kat Wilcox
5. ICE Joins Federal Crime Efforts in D.C.
President Trump also called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist with arresting illegal immigrants in Washington, D.C., and to help deter crime, according to Daily Wire.
President Trump said he also wants homeless encampments removed.
"We're going to take our capital back," Trump told the AP, adding that he'll also be, "getting rid of slums."
6. Trump Praises Early Success of Crackdown
On Thursday, President Trump spoke in front of a large crowd, including law enforcement from multiple agencies and National Guard troops. He praised them for their efforts and the apparent positive results that have resulted from the work they've done.
"We've had some incredible results, and results have come out, and it's like a different place. It's like a different city," he said, according to Fox News Digital.
Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told Fox News Digital that as of Thursday, there hadn't been a homicide in the city for over a week.
"No police officer working in the city can remember a time in their lives when there has been no murders," Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said, according to WND.
Trump also noted, "When I look at you people, I understand why. Because there's no games, right? We're not playing games. We're going to make it safe, and we're going to then go on to other places. But we're going to stay here for a while. We want to make this absolutely perfect. It's our capital."
Vice President Vance told WNG that violent crime has been reduced by 35 percent since the National Guard was deployed, and robberies have dropped by 50 percent.
Miller said that he has spoken to many police officers himself, and "Members of the public are going up to them and thanking them, just overflowing with gratitude because for the first time in their lives, they can use the parks, they can walk on the streets," according to WND.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker/Staff
7. Expansion Plans for Federal Crime Crackdowns
The next place on Trump's agenda is Chicago.
"We're going to make our cities very, very safe," Trump told The Hill. "Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent, and we'll straighten that one out probably next. That will be our next one after this. And it won't even be tough."
He claimed there were "African American ladies, beautiful ladies," who wanted him to take action in Chicago.
President Trump has also indicated that New York City is on his agenda and may follow Chicago.
Other places President Trump has his eye on for future crime crackdowns so far include 19 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming, according to The Post Millennial.
