Black mayors are highlighting notable reductions in crime across urban areas, even as they confront political tensions over President Trump’s assertions about city safety. Despite Trump’s claims of widespread violence, data indicates a record-low homicide rate in 2025. Mayors such as Brandon Scott of Baltimore and Brandon Johnson of Chicago emphasize the impact of policy and community efforts while critiquing Trump’s militarized approach to urban issues.
In an effort to address urban safety, some of the nation’s most prominent Black mayors are celebrating major drops in city crime rates, even as they criticize the current administration’s mischaracterization of urban conditions. Trump has repeatedly asserted that cities, especially Democratic-led areas, face a surge in violence, despite the fact that 2025 is on track to have the lowest number of homicides ever reported by the FBI.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott highlighted the achievements in his city, which saw just five homicides in April, its lowest on record. Scott emphasized that these accomplishments do not go unnoticed, yet the political narrative continues to shift, with new concerns such as stolen vehicles taking precedence. This sentiment was echoed by other mayors including Chicago’s Brandon Johnson, Oakland’s Barbara Lee, and Washington’s Muriel Bowser, who are the targets of the president’s rhetoric about safety in American cities.
Johnson, whose city is experiencing a 30 percent drop in crime and the fewest homicides in a decade, stated that the focus is no accident. He pointed out the significance of Black leadership in city governance and the intentional nature of the current political climate, which he attributes to a form of extremism that has not accepted the outcomes of the Civil War. Bowser expressed concerns over the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, which she believes has been a cover for immigration enforcement, thus disrupting the trust between communities and local police.
Van Johnson, the mayor of Savannah, Georgia, noted that while many Black mayors appreciate the handling of guard deployments by Bowser and have learned from her strategies, there is also a balance to be maintained with the expectations of the local citizenry. He highlighted the intersectional challenges faced by Black mayors, who are under pressure from both white fear and Black expectations, making their role both demanding and lonely.