President Donald Trump made a forceful case for targeted law enforcement and mass deportations during his February 2, 2026 interview on The Dan Bongino Show, marking Bongino’s first broadcast since leaving the FBI. In a blunt warning about public safety, Trump argued that a very small segment of the population is responsible for the overwhelming majority of serious crime, saying that “2% of the people create 90% of the crime,” and that removing these individuals would have an outsized and immediate impact on crime rates.

Trump described these repeat offenders as “sick people,” stressing that authorities do not need to arrest or target the entire population to restore order. Instead, he argued, focusing on the most dangerous individuals—many of whom he associates with violent crime and illegal immigration—can dramatically reduce violence. He warned that habitual offenders “will never be good” and that, left unchecked, they “will eventually kill you,” framing the issue as one of urgency rather than ideology.

The remarks align with Trump’s broader law-and-order agenda, which prioritizes aggressive enforcement, deportation of criminal non-citizens, and dismantling policies that he argues shield repeat offenders from consequences. Supporters see the argument as a practical approach to public safety, emphasizing that concentrating resources on the most violent criminals is both efficient and effective, particularly in cities struggling with persistent crime.

While critics seized on Trump’s specific numbers, the underlying principle he highlighted is widely recognized in criminology: crime is highly concentrated among a small group of repeat offenders. Research across multiple countries has consistently shown that a narrow fraction of the population is responsible for a disproportionate share of violent and serious crimes, even if the precise percentages vary. From Trump’s perspective, this reinforces the case for decisive action against known offenders rather than broad, ineffective policies that burden law-abiding citizens.