President Donald Trump’s recent federalization of Washington, D.C., following his declaration of a “crime emergency,” has sparked mixed reactions and renewed debate about public safety in the nation’s capital. While official data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows violent crime is down 26% compared to 2024, many residents and journalists argue that these statistics don’t reflect their everyday experiences.
ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips recounted on-air that she was attacked just two blocks from her D.C. studio within the past two years. She added that two ABC staffers were recently victims of violent incidents near the network’s bureau, including a deadly shooting. “So we can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we’re all experiencing it firsthand,” she said.
Despite the reported drop, D.C. has still recorded 99 homicides so far in 2025. Adding to the controversy, D.C. Police Commander Michael Pulliam is currently under investigation over allegations that he manipulated crime data. Though he denies any wrongdoing, his suspension has raised further questions about the accuracy of reported statistics.
Trump’s move has also drawn reactions from national media figures. MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough criticized Democrats for privately acknowledging D.C.’s crime issues while publicly opposing the federal intervention. He argued that the city’s crime problem has been evident for years and that many residents feel unsafe walking even a few blocks at night.
Scarborough contrasted D.C. with New York City, which he described as much safer. He shared that he freely walks long distances in Manhattan, but rushes door-to-door by bike in D.C. due to safety concerns.
