DC police accused of changing crime stats just weeks before Trump federalized city
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Six Red States to Send National Guard Troops to DC
Above: National Guard troops on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2025. Image copyright: Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This massive military deployment to D.C. amounts to political theater rather than genuine crime fighting, with troops mostly standing near tourist sites while FBI data shows dozens of the cities in deploying states with higher violent crime rates than the capital. The operation appears designed to intimidate a city that voted heavily against Trump rather than address real public safety concerns, especially given that D.C. violent crime has dropped 26% to a 30-year low.
Republican narrative
The federal takeover of D.C. is necessary to restore law and order to America's capital city. Crime has spiraled out of control in the district, making it one of the most dangerous places in the nation and threatening federal operations. Democrat claims of historically low crime rates are undermined by police misconduct, with a D.C. commander removed over misleading crime stats. The deployment of National Guard troops from multiple states demonstrates strong Republican leadership stepping up to support public safety.