- The White House says D.C. crime is “out of control,” pointing to a 2024 homicide rate of 27.3 per 100,000 and steep carjacking growth since 2018.
- It lists 29,348 total reported crimes in 2024; so far in 2025, nearly 16,000 total crimes and about 1,600 violent offenses are noted.
- The article alleges MPD is “cooking the books” and argues underreporting and resident fear skew the true picture.
The Big Picture
On August 11, 2025, the White House published a piece asserting that Washington, D.C., “is anything but safe,” framing the city’s crime trends as a public-safety failure. According to the White House, 2024 saw a homicide rate of 27.3 per 100,000—described as the fourth-highest in the country—and carjackings that have surged since 2018. The article also highlights resident anxiety and claims underreporting distorts the real picture.
What’s New
The White House lists year-by-year and year-to-date figures to make its case. It notes 29,348 total reported crimes in 2024, including 3,469 violent offenses, 1,026 assaults with a dangerous weapon, 2,113 robberies, and 5,139 motor vehicle thefts. For 2025 to date, it says police have logged nearly 1,600 violent crimes and close to 16,000 total crimes, with nearly 100 homicides—including the killings of three-year-old Honesty Cheadle and 21-year-old Capitol Hill intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. It further states carjackings increased 547% between 2018 and 2023 and were triple 2018 levels in 2024, and that vehicle theft exceeds the national average by more than threefold.
What They’re Saying
Context
According to the White House, the homicide rate was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2012, implying a long-term rise through 2024. The piece compares D.C.’s murder rate with New York City and several other U.S. cities, and even with foreign capitals such as Islamabad and Havana. It also says juvenile arrests have increased each year since 2020 and alleges MPD leadership has been “cooking the books.” The article adds that many residents do not feel safe reporting crimes—as reported by WUSA-TV—arguing official numbers understate risk.
What’s Next
Expect renewed scrutiny of crime reporting methods and enforcement strategy. City leaders, police officials, and federal authorities are likely to face pressure to demonstrate measurable progress on violent crime and carjackings, alongside transparency in how statistics are compiled.
The Bottom Line
The White House is pressing a stark message: D.C. crime is high and undercounted, with homicides and carjackings as leading indicators. Whether stakeholders accept or challenge the methodology, the narrative intensifies demand for visible improvements in public safety.
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