Is crime in Washington DC 'out of control', as Trump claims?
Trump makes claims on Twitter
Trump claims that Washington DC's crime rate is 'out of control' and that the Democratic mayor is responsible.
The facts behind the claims
The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program show that Washington DC's crime rate has consistently been higher than the national average since at least 2001. Since 2015, however, the city's crime rate has been on a downward trend. Trump's claims come after a spike in shootings this year, with officers blaming copycat crimes following the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests.
What the experts say
Criminologist Ronald Clarke, who works for the George Mason University, argues that the decrease in the crime rate is more complex than Trump's simplistic accusations against the mayor suggest. He says that whilst a Democrat mayor would likely prioritise different aspects of crime prevention, the trend towards fewer crimes in the city is clear.
The public reaction
Residents of Washington DC have taken to Twitter to denounce Trump's comments, with many emphasising the reduction in crime over recent years and the positive actions of the city's mayor, Muriel Bowser.
