Earlier this year, during his joint address to Congress, President Donald Trump made an important observation about border security. “The media and our friends in the Democrat party kept saying we needed new legislation, we must have legislation to secure the border,” he said. “But it turned out that all we really needed was a new President.”
The usual suspects on the left dismissed the line, but Trump was right—America’s border is more secure today not because of new laws, but because the laws already on the books are finally being enforced. And that same principle applies to crime. The problem isn’t a lack of laws, it’s the refusal of Democrats in blue cities to enforce them.
The violent crime plaguing this nation is overwhelmingly clustered in Democrat-run cities, with Washington, D.C., standing out as a prime example. Yet, Trump showed that we don't have to accept this rampant lawlessness as an unfixable problem. Instead, what’s needed is leadership willing to act decisively.
Trump’s approach to crime in D.C. was straightforward and effective. By federalizing the police force and deploying the National Guard, he transformed the city into what he called a “crime-free zone” in just 12 days. This wasn’t some magic trick; it was hard work, courage, and smart law enforcement policies that sent a clear message: violent criminals would face consequences.
Even more striking, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser herself once expressed skepticism about Operation Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful but soon acknowledged its real impact. She credited the federal surge with enhancing the Metropolitan Police Department’s effectiveness, leading to significantly more stops related to illegal guns. She reported an 87% drop in carjackings and fewer gun crimes and homicides. This drastic reduction in violent crime is largely due to restoring accountability; when criminals know law enforcement is serious and relentless, illegal behavior plummets.
D.C. Mayor Bowser: We "greatly appreciate" the surge.
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) August 27, 2025
"The difference between this 20-day period of this federal surge and last year represents a 87% reduction in carjackings" in the city, she says, adding that "neighborhoods feel safer and are safer" because of it. pic.twitter.com/H3JjJprK4y
What truly sets this apart is the cooperation from Mayor Bowser, a collaboration Trump praised warmly. Unlike many left-wing leaders who either excuse or enable violent crime, Bowser worked with the Trump administration to restore safety to the nation’s capital. The contrast couldn’t be starker when you look at other liberal-run cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, where politicians too often justify lawlessness instead of confronting it head-on.
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Trump’s success in D.C. wasn’t a fluke. The crime-fighting approach is repeatable nationwide, providing a template for other cities drowning in violence. After the federal involvement, Mayor Bowser’s approval ratings surged by 25%, reflecting public gratitude for the newfound safety. Citizens noticed that their neighborhoods felt safer and more secure—a feeling that had vanished for too long.
Trump also referenced how federal troops helped calm riots in Los Angeles, earning praise from the city’s top law enforcement official. This cooperation prevented further chaos and even safeguarded the city’s chance to host the Olympics. Such examples underscore that law and order isn’t just about local police but coordinated efforts led by strong leadership willing to stand firm.
Trump’s has shown what real leadership can accomplish. The lesson is unmistakable: violent crime isn’t inevitable. It can be crushed when leaders stop making excuses, lock up violent offenders, and stand firmly with law enforcement. That’s how communities are revived, public safety is restored, and law-abiding citizens finally get room to breathe. America doesn’t need soft promises or policies that appease criminals—it needs the kind of decisive leadership Trump has already proven works.
