Washington, D.C. – On August 19, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt admitted that the Trump administration had “reconfigured” Washington, D.C., crime statistics to bolster President Donald Trump’s claims of rampant lawlessness in the nation’s capital, sparking a fierce backlash and intensifying a contentious debate over public safety and federal overreach.
The revelation comes as the Department of Justice under U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, investigates allegations that D.C. officials manipulated crime data to downplay violence, adding fuel to a political firestorm that has seen protests, polarized rhetoric, and growing concerns about the 2026 midterms. As Trump’s National Guard deployment and police federalization face scrutiny, the battle over crime statistics is shaping up as a defining issue in his second term.
The Admission – “Reconfigured” Crime Statistics
During a White House briefing, Leavitt defended the administration’s decision to reconstruct D.C. crime data, claiming it was a response to “false” media reports, specifically calling out a Washington Post map she dismissed as based on “accounts they’ve heard on the street, not actual statistics and data.”
She stated, “We went and reconfigured the numbers, and as I said, nearly half of all the non-illegal alien related arrests have occurred in wards seven and eight in the District of Columbia, where we know there’s the highest rate of crime.”
Leavitt’s admission, first reported on X by users like @hwm777 and @MarkKepes, has raised eyebrows, with critics accusing the administration of manipulating data to justify Trump’s August 11, executive order federalizing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deploying National Guard troops.
The White House claims its data shows 465 arrests since the operation began on August 7, including 52 on August 18, notably an “illegal alien MS-13 gang member with convictions for DWI and drug possession.” Leavitt emphasized that these arrests, particularly in high-crime Wards 7 and 8, validate Trump’s crackdown.
However, the admission of “reconfiguring” statistics has drawn sharp criticism, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries asserting that official data shows violent crime at a 30-year low, down 35% from 2023 to 2024, per a January 2025 DOJ report.
DOJ Probe into D.C. Data Manipulation
The controversy is compounded by a DOJ investigation into allegations that D.C. officials manipulated crime data to portray the city as safer than it is. The probe, led by Pirro’s office, gained traction after Metropolitan Police Department Commander Michael Pulliam was placed on paid administrative leave in May, following accusations of altering crime statistics in his district.
Pulliam, who filed an equal employment opportunity complaint against an assistant chief, denies wrongdoing, and Bowser has downplayed the issue, stating the concern was limited to one commander and resolved after an internal review.
Trump seized on the allegations, posting on TRUTH Social on August 18, “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for doing so!” He echoed this claim earlier, suggesting he would release his own crime stats to counter D.C.’s figures, a move critics argue politicizes law enforcement.
The DOJ probe’s scope remains unclear, but sources indicate it extends beyond Pulliam to other police and city officials, raising questions about potential federal laws violated by data manipulation.
D. C Is City Divided – Trump’s Narrative vs. Official Data
Trump’s depiction of D.C. as a “city of lawlessness” has been a cornerstone of his second term, culminating in his executive order under Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, which allows temporary federal control of the police for 30 days.
During an Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 18, Trump defended the crackdown, saying, “The press says, ‘He’s a dictator, he’s trying to take over.’ No, all I want is security for our people.” He claimed residents are now dining out, with restaurants busier than they’ve been “in a long time,” attributing this to his policies.
However, official data contradicts Trump’s narrative. The Metropolitan Police Department reported a 32% drop in homicides, 53% decrease in armed carjackings, and 26% reduction in overall violent crime from 2023 to 2024, with a further 12% homicide decline in 2025.
Bowser, speaking on MSNBC, insisted, “We are not experiencing a spike in crime,” and Jeffries called the takeover baseless, citing the 30-year low in violent crime. Critics, including Georgetown University law professor Stephen Vladeck, argue the federalization is a misuse of authority, limited to using the police for “federal purposes” rather than full control.
On X, the debate is polarized. One user posted, “Trump’s cleaning up D.C.—fake stats were hiding the truth!” while another countered, “Leavitt’s ‘reconfigured’ numbers are just propaganda to justify a power grab.” The controversy has fueled protests, with hundreds marching on August 16 chanting “Free D.C.” and “Trump Must Go,” organized by groups like Refuse Fascism.
Why It Matters
The crime stats dispute is part of a broader storm engulfing Trump’s second term. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with its unpopular Medicaid cuts, has sparked voter backlash, with CNN’s Harry Enten calling it the most hated legislation since 1990.
The Epstein files controversy, Ghislaine Maxwell’s prison transfer, and Matt Gaetz’s AI image blunder on OAN have further eroded public trust, while a Politico poll shows declining support for Trump’s tariffs among his 2024 voters. Democratic leaders are capitalizing on these missteps, with Rep. Mikie Sherrill positioning herself for a 2025 gubernatorial run by attacking Trump’s “authoritarian” tendencies.
The D.C. crackdown also raises legal questions. A federal lawsuit by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb blocked an attempt to appoint DEA Administrator Terry Cole as an “emergency police commissioner,” arguing it violates home rule. Critics like Rep. Jasmine Crockett, targeted by Trump’s cognitive test taunts, warn of dictatorial overreach, a sentiment echoed by psychologists Harry Segal and John Gartner, who allege Trump’s actions reflect cognitive decline and authoritarianism.
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What’s Next?
The admission of “reconfigured” statistics risks further damaging the administration’s credibility, particularly as the DOJ probe unfolds. If evidence of D.C.’s data manipulation is substantiated, it could validate Trump’s narrative but also deepen distrust in local governance.
However, if the probe finds no widespread misconduct, it may bolster Bowser’s claim that Trump’s takeover is unwarranted. The administration’s reliance on its own data, without transparent methodology, invites skepticism, especially amid accusations of politicizing law enforcement.
For Democrats, the controversy is a rallying point. Betting markets give them a 71% chance of retaking the House in 2026, as they tie the crime stats debate to broader critiques of Trump’s leadership, from the Smithsonian review to tariff policies. GOP strategists, including Steve Bannon, warn of electoral losses if the party fails to address voter concerns, with the Epstein files saga adding pressure. Protests are set to continue, with Refuse Fascism planning a “day of resistance” on November 5.
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