Senator Schmitt Links Historic U.S. Crime Drop to President Trump’s Leadership

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., declared Monday that recent historic declines in crime nationwide—including Washington, D.C.—demonstrate “America is much safer with President [Donald] Trump in office.” The senator cited January’s record-low homicide count in the nation’s capital, which saw only two murders, a figure described by the Washington Examiner as one of the lowest monthly totals on record. This follows an extended period of stability for the city, with more than three weeks passing without a single homicide at the start of 2026—a trend that previously coincided with Trump-era National Guard deployments in August.

Schmitt referenced a similar pattern of safety during prior deployments, stating: “It’s one of those success stories, sort of like with the border, where there’s no illegal crossings.” He emphasized the nationwide trajectory, noting preliminary crime statistics from 550 U.S. law enforcement agencies indicated a roughly 20% decrease in homicides for 2025. While analysts attribute such declines to factors including policing strategies and social trends, Schmitt framed the progress as direct evidence of Trump’s leadership priorities.

The senator also criticized left-wing opposition to federal involvement in public safety, particularly regarding National Guard deployments. “It feels like a thousand years ago,” he remarked, referencing past protests against federal military presence in D.C. “They go from one thing to another with their ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’ But the fact of the matter is America is much safer with President Trump in office and making those things a priority—most normal people out there really applaud this.”