A new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll reveals that a majority of Americans back President Donald Trump’s aggressive crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., with over half of registered voters calling his actions “justified and necessary.” The data comes as the Trump administration celebrates a sharp drop in violent crime following its federal intervention in the nation’s capital.
According to the poll, 54% of voters support Trump’s approach to restoring order in D.C., which includes deploying National Guard units, expanding federal policing powers, and declaring a local crime emergency. The same survey found that 56% of respondents believe most large U.S. cities are currently “unsafe.”
Falling Crime Rates Fuel Public Approval
The Trump administration has highlighted early successes in its anti-crime campaign, including a 12-day streak with zero reported homicides — a rarity for the District, which has long struggled with persistent gun violence.
“This town averaged one murder every other day for the last 20-30 years,” Vice President JD Vance said Monday during a press briefing. “In two short weeks, the president and his team have saved six or seven lives — people who would have been killed on the streets of D.C.”
Vance praised Trump for refusing to cede the streets to “vagrants and robbers and murderers,” while U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro credited the crackdown for creating a visible deterrent effect.
“The president’s move to make D.C. safe and beautiful is literally changing the safety landscape of Washington,” Pirro said in a video posted to X.
New crime data provided by the D.C. Police Union shows a 42% drop in robberies and an 85% decrease in carjackings over the past two weeks. The union has publicly endorsed the president’s law enforcement strategy, a significant shift in support compared to past friction between federal and local police leadership.
Political Divide Emerges, but Independents Show Support
Though Trump’s tactics have drawn sharp criticism from left-wing groups and some local D.C. officials, with Democratic groups like Vera Action labeling the crackdown a “political liability” for Republicans, arguing it may alienate urban voters even as crime statistics improve. Independents have shown significant support, with 47% approving of the president’s actions.
In contrast, the White House points to growing public demand for safety in major cities. The poll found that 51% of respondents believe deploying the National Guard in D.C. makes the city safer.
Additionally, Trump has hinted that Chicago may be the next target for federal intervention, citing similarly high crime rates and “a total collapse of law and order.”
Gang Arrest Underscores Security Concerns
The crackdown also includes a strong immigration enforcement component. On Sunday, a member of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang — a transnational criminal group — was arrested in D.C., according to a White House official. The suspect had multiple prior arrests and four immigration encounters, reigniting debate over the link between illegal immigration and urban crime.
Trump and his administration have increasingly tied immigration enforcement to their broader crime agenda, citing the presence of foreign gangs as a national security threat.
2026 Election Implications
With crime remaining a top concern for voters heading into the 2026 midterm elections, Trump’s strategy in D.C. may serve as a blueprint for other cities — or a battleground for deeper ideological clashes over criminal justice.
While critics warn of potential “civil liberties violations” and federal overreach, the poll results suggest a significant portion of the public is ready to prioritize safety — even if it means breaking from traditional norms of local control.
The Harvard CAPS/Harris poll surveyed 2,025 registered voters online from August 20 to 21.
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I won’t go into any sanctuary city without a firearm.