Violent Crime in D.C.
PBS claims that President Trump is wrong about the prevalence of violent crime in Washington, D.C. because FBI data shows violent crime there “hit a 30-year low” in 2024.
IN FACT, murder is the most accurately measured and severe crime, and FBI data shows the murder rate in D.C. has increased by 83% since 2012 and is currently 5 times the national average. Like other media outlets, PBS is ignoring the FBI’s warning against “making any direct comparison” of its crime data over time because “changes in police procedures, shifting attitudes toward crime and police, and other societal changes can affect the extent to which people report and law enforcement agencies record crime.”
