NEW YORK — August 14, 2026 — President Donald Trump is putting crime and public safety back at the center of the national political conversation as he travels to New York to highlight newly released FBI statistics showing a sharp decline in violent crime.
Trump is visiting the Nassau County Police Academy on Long Island alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Todd Blanche. The president is using the event to promote his law-and-order agenda and support Republican candidates ahead of the November midterm elections.
Violent Crime Shows a Major Decline
Preliminary FBI data for 2025 show violent crime falling by an estimated 9.3% nationwide compared with the previous year.
The numbers include an estimated 18.1% decline in murder and non-negligent manslaughter and an 18.5% decrease in robbery. The FBI figures have been described by the White House as the largest year-to-year decline in violent crime on record.
Other categories of violent crime also declined, including rape and aggravated assault.
The figures provide Trump with an opportunity to argue that his administration’s focus on law enforcement is producing results.
Trump Says the Numbers Prove His Approach Is Working
The White House is presenting the new figures as evidence that Trump’s law-and-order agenda is making communities safer.
Trump has repeatedly campaigned on reducing crime and strengthening support for police departments.
His visit to New York is therefore designed not only as a public-safety event but also as a political message ahead of the midterms. Republicans view crime and public safety as issues that can appeal to both their core supporters and swing voters.
But the Crime Decline Started Before Trump Returned
There is an important part of the story that has drawn attention from crime analysts.
The national decline in violent crime did not begin with Trump’s return to the White House. Homicide rates had already fallen sharply during 2023 and 2024 after reaching unusually high levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crime has also fallen in cities with very different policing strategies and political leadership.
That makes it difficult to attribute the entire nationwide decline to a single presidential policy.
Democrats argue that Republicans are overstating the effect of federal policy on the crime decline, while Republicans argue that Trump’s approach has helped accelerate improvements in public safety.
Crime Becomes a Major Midterm Issue
The timing of Trump’s announcement is significant.
The 2026 midterm elections are approaching, and control of Congress will be decided in November.
Trump’s focus on crime gives Republicans an issue they believe can resonate with voters, particularly in suburban areas where public safety remains an important concern.
Trump’s New York visit is also connected to the state’s political races. He is supporting Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in his campaign for governor against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
A Bigger Political Fight Over Public Safety
Both parties are attempting to claim credit for the country’s improving crime numbers.
Republicans argue that stronger policing and tougher enforcement are producing safer communities.
Democrats counter that the decline began before Trump returned to office and reflects broader changes occurring across the country rather than one administration’s policies.
The disagreement is likely to continue throughout the midterm campaign.
What Happens Next?
The latest crime figures give Trump a powerful political talking point as he tries to make public safety a central issue heading into November.
For Americans, however, the most important question is whether the downward trend continues.
If violent crime keeps falling through 2026, public safety could become an even stronger issue for Republicans during the midterm elections.
For now, the latest FBI numbers provide both sides with plenty to argue about — but the headline figure is difficult to ignore: violent crime is falling sharply across the United States.
