President Trump asserts that crime in Minneapolis has decreased significantly following the removal of thousands of criminals by federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump is defending the federal law enforcement operations in Minneapolis, claiming that crime has dropped sharply due to the removal of what he describes as “thousands of hardened criminals” from the city.
In an interview with NBC News’ Tom Llamas that aired on Sunday, Trump stated that crime in Minneapolis has decreased by as much as 30%, attributing this decline to stricter enforcement measures. “The crime numbers in Minnesota, in Minneapolis in particular, are down 25, 30% because we’ve removed thousands of criminals from the area,” Trump said. “These are hardened criminals… Most of them came in through an open border, and we’ve done a great job.”
Operation Metro Surge has deployed thousands of immigration agents to Minneapolis and St. Paul, resulting in numerous arrests but also sparking resistance and public outrage among residents.
In his remarks, Trump pointed to other major cities where he claims his administration has achieved significant reductions in crime. “Look at Washington, D.C.,” he said. “It’s like a safe city. You can walk to the White House. You don’t have to take an armored vehicle.” He also mentioned New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee, as examples of cities experiencing dramatic crime reductions.
“Look at what happened in Louisiana,” Trump continued. “I got a call from the governor, ‘Please do something with New Orleans.’ We went there four weeks ago, crime is down 71%.” He further claimed that in Memphis, crime has decreased by 80% after just five weeks of intervention.
Trump believes these trends reflect the success of his administration’s tough-on-crime policies. “Crime, historically in this country, it’s down [to] the lowest level it’s ever been,” he stated. “We’ve had less murders than we have had in decades. And you know why? Because we’re tough on crime.”
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that murders in major U.S. cities have fallen to their lowest levels since at least 1900, coinciding with a surge in federal arrests, gang takedowns, and deportations under Trump’s commitment to “restore law and order.”
Trump also revealed that he decided to withdraw hundreds of federal law enforcement agents from Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of two residents last month. He indicated that the Department of Homeland Security could “use a little bit of a softer touch” in its approach.
On Wednesday, White House border czar Tom Homan announced that approximately 700 federal agents would be leaving the Twin Cities, with plans for a “complete drawdown” of federal presence in the area.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding these developments.
According to Fox News Digital, the administration’s approach has sparked both support and criticism as it continues to navigate the complexities of law enforcement and community relations in urban areas.