President Donald Trump touted his administration’s success in restoring safety to Washington, D.C., highlighting a dramatic drop in crime following emergency measures.

“It’s a crime free area,” Trump said, describing the results of his aggressive crackdown on lawlessness in the nation’s capital. According to Department of Justice data, violent crime rates in D.C. have fallen 34% since the measures were implemented.

Supporters point to the statistics as evidence of a turnaround, crediting Trump’s policies with re-establishing law and order. Critics, however, caution that comparing current numbers to pre-2021 levels overlooks the sharp rise in crime that occurred in recent years—spikes many attribute to failed policies that made such emergency actions necessary.

The debate underscores both the impact of Trump’s security push and the ongoing questions about how best to address long-term public safety challenges in urban centers.