D.C. Branded a Target While Red States Face Deadlier Violence

September 2, 2025

President Trump consistently targets minority-populated cities and jurisdictions, portraying them as crime-ridden despite evidence of declining crime rates in many categories. Washington, D.C., which had the highest murder rate in 2023 at 39 per 100,000 residents with 265 murders, receives particular criticism from Trump who portrays it as unlivable. Meanwhile, several Republican-led states such as Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas have higher murder rates than Democratic-led states with larger minority populations that Trump often criticizes.

Who is affected

Washington, D.C. residents
Residents of cities with large minority populations
Residents of Republican-led states with high murder rates
Black and Latino populations in urban areas
Citizens in D.C. who lack full congressional representation

What action is being taken

Trump continues to attack and criticize cities with large minority populations
Local efforts in Washington D.C. are being made to address violence
National Guard and federal troops are currently stationed throughout Washington D.C.
Researchers are documenting and reporting on actual murder rates across states

Why it matters

Trump's rhetoric misrepresents crime statistics across the country
D.C. residents lack the same enforceable rights as other U.S. citizens because it's not a state
There's a disconnect between political rhetoric about crime and actual murder statistics
The deployment of federal troops in D.C. makes it appear like "an occupied country"
Murder rates in Republican-led states are often higher than in Democratic-led states that receive more criticism

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer