False Claim: Trump Says D.C. Had No Murders for Six Months — MPD Data Contradict

At the White House turkey-pardoning ceremony, President Donald Trump said Washington, D.C., “hasn’t had a murder in six months” and called the city “a safe zone,” citing his August deployment of National Guard troops to the capital. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) figures, however, contradict that statement.

What the MPD data show

• The MPD reports 62 homicides in Washington since May 25, including one recorded last week.
• The city has recorded 123 homicides so far in 2025.
• Since National Guard forces were deployed on Aug. 11, the MPD reports 24 homicides.
• Some published feeds briefly showed lower counts (61 and 23) because of a technical error; the corrected totals above are the department’s official numbers.
• When asked about the president’s claim, MPD said the statistics speak for themselves.

Responses and legal developments

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the administration’s record, saying the president helped transform Washington “from a crime-ridden mess into a beautiful, clean, safe city,” but she did not address the discrepancy between the president’s remark and MPD statistics directly. A federal judge ordered the administration to end the months-long National Guard deployment in the district, finding the takeover unlawfully intruded on local authority; that order is stayed for 21 days to allow for appeal. In September, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to block Guard deployments without the mayor’s consent while litigation proceeds.

Context on crime trends

Crime data present a mixed picture. A Department of Justice report in January found total violent crime in 2024 was at its lowest level in more than 30 years and noted a 32% drop in homicides from 2023. MPD statistics show improvements as well: homicides in the past six months are down 46% versus the same period last year; homicides since the August deployment are down 38% compared with the prior interval; and homicides in 2025 are down 29% to date versus 2024.

During the National Guard’s initial one-month surge in the city, violent crime was down 39% year-over-year for that span and homicides fell 53% (seven during the surge versus 15 in the same period in 2024). Arson is the only major offense that did not decline, showing no change year-over-year.

Ongoing investigation and takeaway

Federal authorities have opened an investigation into allegations that some city crime reports were altered to present improved results; that inquiry remains ongoing. While crime in Washington shows notable year-over-year declines in several categories, the MPD numbers make clear the president’s specific statement that the city had gone six months without a murder is inaccurate.