Fear is sweeping DC that Democrats will take over the House in 2026. Pulling the panic button the GOP not only tries to cut expected losses by gerrymandering to gain seats, they are pulling their old rabbit out of the magic hat: Democrats are soft on crime; the GOP is tough on crime. President makes provocative claim during Cabinet meeting as National Guard patrols DC streets | Fox News Trump will make crime the top issue in 2026.
Willie Horton in 1988? GOP ads in 2022? The GOP mouths familiar words, but their Big Beautiful Bill cuts funding to after-school programs and adds nothing to local policing. Instead, Trump cut billions from local police reforms and improvements and Gov. Pritzker charged he "defunded police". Trump Reverses Biden Directive on Policing Reforms | Brennan Center for Justice. Trump's big beautiful bill diverted funding from policies that shift funds away from some policing and crime-prevention programs. So, Trump threatens to send in the military just to make the point that he is the big muscle caring about your safety and protection against crime. As usual, the perception by the loyal GOP followers is that crime is always out of control whenever there are black mayors in blue states. The statistics show crime rates are as bad to worse in red states' cities, but who in the GOP cares about statistics? Perception is all that counts.
In the meantime, if there was a crime wave to justify such military intervention, the Big Beautiful Bill added nothing to support of urban policing and instead yanks funds from community-based policing and taking guns off the street beginning in 2026.. Instead, all law enforcement increases were for combating immigration. Trump loves crime committed on his behalf or by those who support him enough as he issues pardons and gets immunity to commit crimes himself, a gift from the Supreme Court.
The next question is how Democrats should counter this Trump strategy to make crime the issue: One way is to show that Democrats don't like crime either, and then come up with a plan that makes sense. It may vary from one area to another, but it isn't just strategy and collaboration, or solving urban social problems caused by poverty. I have served in big city local government, have had close friends in law enforcement, and sat through interminable city council debates. There is no silver bullet. However, more cops on the beat on foot or bike do two things: one, make a visible statement, giving reassurances to residents, and two, get on the ground response more quickly in high crime urban areas. The difference is that Democrats would extend such programs not only to cities with high crime rates in blue states but also to cities in need in red states.
In politics, visibility counts in shaping perception. I could see some smart candidate proposing an idea like "a cop a block" in targeted high crime areas or something catchy and visible like that, and then proposing funding more cops visible on the streets. That may be where Congress fits into the picture. That may not be the best and highest use, but at least it would provide something better than a soldier on every block for only 30 days. What happens when they leave, anyway? Soldiers are not trained to be cops of civilians, make arrests, and intervene to defuse hot conflicts. It is like the concept of community cop policing in schools. or a cop on every subway train or bus stop.
https://www.nlc.org/article/2025/07/11/local-impacts-from-congress-one-big-beautiful-bill #:~:text=The%20bill%20maintains%20the%20direct,2034%20period%20by%20$3.4%20trillion.%E2%80%9D
MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: So is Trump going to send troops into crime ridden cities located in red states?
To keep kids out of trouble, the Big Beautiful bill also It is also withholds nearly $7 billion in gran is to admit t funding to school districts – for before- and after-school programs, teacher training, ... https://www.nlc.org/article/2025/07/11/local-impacts-from-congress-one-big-beautiful-bill/:
The Campaign Ad that Reshaped Criminal Justice | The Takeaway | WNYC Studios Willii Horton
Local crime news coverage and concerns about crime | Pew Research Center 2022
https://giffords.org/press-release/2025/05/trump-budget-defunds-the-police/
Trump loves criminals convicted of crimes committed on his behalf or by those who support him enough as he issues pardons and gets immunity to commit crimes himself, a gift from the Supreme Court. List of people granted executive clemency in the second Trump presidency - Wikipedia
