ABC Anchor Highlights Rising Crime, D.C. Police Union Urges Action Amid Federal Takeover

ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips has publicly challenged the narrative pushed by Democrats that crime in Washington, D.C. is at a 30-year low, sharing her personal experiences with crime near the ABC bureau, including being assaulted and witnessing shootings and car thefts. President Trump has responded by taking over the D.C. police department, declaring a crime emergency and deploying the National Guard, a move criticized by local officials as an overreach and an intrusion on local authority. NBC News offered a more balanced coverage by reporting both the President's actions and the local officials' criticism, as well as noting allegations from the police union that crime statistics were manipulated. However, ABC and CBS were more skeptical of Trump's measures and emphasized official crime statistics showing declines in violent crime, burglary, and murder. Critics of the Democratic narrative argue that official crime data does not match the lived reality of many residents and journalists in the city, suggesting that crime remains a serious problem. The debate highlights a deep divide over the state of public safety in D.C., with President Trump asserting aggressive steps are necessary to restore law and order.