Washington, D.C.’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged Wednesday that crime in the district has plummeted since President Donald Trump’s federal takeover earlier this month — a stunning admission that validates the president’s law enforcement strategy.
Bowser, who previously opposed federal intervention, praised the dramatic results and said she “greatly appreciates” the surge of federal resources since Trump’s emergency declaration in early August.
“This is what we think, in just a couple of weeks of experience, has worked: having more federal law enforcement officers on the street. We think having more stops that got to illegal guns has helped. We think that there’s more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system that is driving down illegal behavior,” Bowser said at a Wednesday press conference.
It is a remarkable turnaround from her previous anger at federal intervention and critics say it provides powerful validation that Trump’s aggressive approach to combating urban crime works.
“We know that we have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and we have experienced an Extreme reduction in carjackings,” Bowser said.
Carjackings, which terrorized D.C. residents throughout 2023, have dropped an astonishing 87% compared to the same period last year under Trump’s federal law enforcement surge, Bowser announced.
“The most significant thing that we are highlighting today is the area of crime that was most troubling for us in 2023,” Bowser said.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when the use of gun goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So this surge has been important to us,” the mayor admitted.
Bowser also said she would like continued federal support after Trump’s 30-day emergency order expires.
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DC MAYOR ON TRUMP CRACKDOWN: "We think that there's more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior."
"We have had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides. We have experienced an extreme reduction in… pic.twitter.com/q7DNDXGOwf
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 27, 2025
Since the operation began, more than 1,000 people have been arrested, with hundreds of those arrested being illegal immigrants, including members of the violent MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gangs.
Law enforcement has seized over 100 firearms during the operation and cleared away dozens of homeless encampments as part of Trump’s broader effort to make the nation’s capital both safe and beautiful.
Bowser’s praise is a significant political victory for Trump, whose move to fight crime in D.C. faced intense opposition from Democrats and local officials when it was announced.
The 87% reduction in carjackings alone represents one of the most dramatic crime reductions in recent American urban history, achieved in just a matter of weeks through federal intervention.
The success in Washington, D.C., has provided Trump with a model that he has indicated he may replicate in other crime-plagued Democratic-controlled cities such as Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and New York