President Trump said on Wednesday that Republican leaders in Congress were working with him on a “comprehensive crime bill,” his latest effort to push the issue of crime to the foreground of American politics.
In a social media post, Mr. Trump said Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader, were among the Republicans working on the bill. He offered no other details.
“It’s what our Country need, and NOW!” Mr. Trump said of the bill on his Truth Social platform. “More to follow.”
Targeting crime was a central part of Mr. Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, even though crime in the United States is close to its lowest level in decades. The issue has also featured prominently in the early part of his second term.
Some of the tough-on-crime policies that Mr. Trump has advocated so far have been thin on details. Many Democrats believe that he is stoking fear for political gain and exaggerating statistics to justify a power grab.
In June, Mr. Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles, saying that they had been sent to accompany federal law enforcement officers on immigration raids and to protect federal buildings from protesters. Mr. Trump’s order was challenged in court by Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who said that Mr. Trump had illegally taken control of the California National Guard against the advice of state officials. The case is awaiting a ruling by a federal court.
Earlier this month, Mr. Trump turned his attention to crime in Washington, D.C., by federalizing the local police force and deploying National Guard troops on the city’s streets. He took credit for a drop in crime in the nation’s capital, even though statistics show that crime had been falling before he took action.
On Monday, he signed an executive order directing the Defense Department to expand its role in domestic law enforcement and creating new National Guard units trained for “ensuring the public safety and order” in Washington and all 50 states. He said on Tuesday that his administration would seek the death penalty for all murder cases in Washington.
Mr. Trump has also suggested expanding the deployments to other cities, particularly Democratic strongholds, saying that crime there is out of control. He said last week that he planned to target Chicago and New York for his next federal crackdown on crime.
He declared on Tuesday that he had unlimited power as president to deploy the National Guard in any state.
During his first term, he signed a bipartisan bill on prison reform that reduced sentences for nonviolent drug crimes in an effort to curb the costs of the country’s booming prison population, and expanded programs to keep recidivism rates down.
The Supreme Court narrowed the law’s scope in a 2024 ruling by tightening the criteria a prisoner must meet to be eligible for a shorter sentence.
Francesca Regalado is a Times reporter covering breaking news.
The post Trump Says Republicans Are Working on a ‘Comprehensive’ Crime Bill appeared first on New York Times.
