Sean Duffy, a former Trump administration official and current Transportation Secretary, has publicly highlighted the effectiveness of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown strategy in Washington, D.C. as a potential blueprint for addressing urban violence and improving public safety nationwide. His op-ed emphasizes the recent tragic stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s light rail, which occurred under Democratic leadership. This incident, along with the suspect’s history of multiple arrests, is used to underscore the consequences of lax enforcement and the prioritization of criminals over victims.
Duffy argues that Trump’s decisive actions in D.C.—including the deployment of federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and National Guard—demonstrated that crime is not an insurmountable issue but a matter of policy. The results, he claims, have been tangible: violent crime has declined, encampments have been cleared, and even D.C.’s Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser, has acknowledged the positive impact of the federal presence. He further criticizes left-leaning policies, such as defunding police, lax prosecution, and the tolerance of open-air drug markets, for their role in turning once-vibrant cities into war zones.
Duffy also points to the recent shift in some Democratic leaders, like Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who initially resisted federal intervention but later called for additional state police in response to rising crime. This, he implies, reflects a growing recognition of the need for action. He urges national leaders to choose between enabling chaos or adopting Trump’s model to restore safety. The op-ed concludes with a call to action, emphasizing that safe streets are essential to economic prosperity and that crime is a choice that the nation can and must reject.