Chicago has reported its lowest homicide total in nearly 60 years, according to newly released crime data from city officials and the Chicago Police Department—marking a dramatic turnaround for a city long plagued by violent crime.
Official figures show murders dropped by nearly 30 percent over the past year, while overall violent crime also declined significantly. Robberies, carjackings, and human trafficking cases all saw sharp reductions, offering fresh evidence that tougher enforcement policies can make a measurable difference.
The improvement follows years of warnings from Donald Trump, who repeatedly highlighted Chicago as a symbol of what happens when violent crime is ignored by progressive leadership.
“For years, Democrat officials denied the severity of Chicago’s crime crisis,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement. “President Trump took decisive action, and the results are clear—crime is down and public safety is improving.”
Crime Falls Across the Board
According to the mayor’s office, Chicago recorded 416 homicides in 2025, the lowest number reported this century and the fewest since 1965. Additional data released by city officials showed:
- Robberies down 36 percent
- Vehicle hijackings down 50 percent
- Overall violent crime down 21 percent
- Human trafficking incidents down 31 percent
For many longtime residents, particularly older Americans who remember a safer Chicago, the statistics represent a long-overdue reversal after years of rising violence.
Federal Pressure Changed the Equation
Chicago was one of several major cities where the Trump administration sought to deploy federal resources, including National Guard support, to assist with public safety and immigration enforcement. While legal challenges limited those efforts, the administration maintains that federal pressure played a key role in restoring order.
Trump previously made clear that if local leaders failed to protect their communities, the federal government would step in.
“If the governor can’t do the job, we’ll do the job,” Trump said during remarks at the White House last fall.
Although the National Guard has since been withdrawn following a Supreme Court decision, Trump emphasized that the improvement came because of federal involvement—not despite it.
“Crime was greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Without the federal government stepping in, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland were gone.”
Democrats Push Back as Results Mount
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker praised the court ruling that blocked continued troop deployments, calling it a victory for the state. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson credited city workers and first responders for what he described as a “transformational year.”
Still, critics note that the crime decline coincided with heightened federal scrutiny and pressure—something local leaders resisted for years.
Trump has warned that if crime surges again, federal intervention could return.
“We will come back,” he said, “if crime begins to soar again.”
A Clear Message for America’s Cities
For supporters of law-and-order policies, Chicago’s new crime data sends a powerful message: strong leadership, accountability, and enforcement matter.
After decades of rising violence and excuses from city hall, the numbers now show what many Americans have long believed—when Washington finally gets serious about public safety, even the most dangerous cities can turn around.