President Donald Trump declared victory over violent crime Friday, telling a Long Island crowd that “every category of violent crime has dropped massively” since he returned to office — while warning that Democrat control could reverse the gains.
Speaking at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City, Trump praised the “men and women who put their lives on the line” to protect Americans and credited his administration’s “efforts to protect law enforcement” with driving down attacks on officers.
The president cited FBI data showing 3,100 fewer murders last year compared to the year before he took office, along with 10,000 fewer rapes and 1.1 million fewer violent crimes overall. Robberies fell 19%, car thefts plunged 23%, and Trump said “the numbers keep getting better.”
.@POTUS: Last year, there were over 3,100 fewer murders than the year before I took office, 10,000 fewer rapes, and 1.1 million fewer violent crimes. Robberies fell by 19%, car thefts plunged by 23% — and according to the latest data, crime has continued to plummet under our… pic.twitter.com/4Azgc3KfYy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026
Trump pointed to his executive order mandating the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a police officer — a move he credited with driving officer line-of-duty deaths to an 80-year low last year.
“Shortly after taking office, I signed a historic Executive Order directing that anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty — and last year, deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty fell to an 80-year low.”
.@POTUS: Shortly after taking office, I signed a historic Executive Order directing that anyone convicted of killing a police officer should face the death penalty — and last year, deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty fell to an 80-year low. pic.twitter.com/VUp9WTcS1t
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026
But the president warned the progress “can be reversed” if Democrats hold power, hammering incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul for what he called her “NIGHTMARE on crime” record.
Trump attacked Hochul’s support for New York’s no-cash-bail law, which he said “releases dangerous criminals immediately after” arrest.
.@POTUS on Long Island: Nowhere is the Communist attack on American society more clear than here in New York. Radical Left @GovKathyHochul has been a NIGHTMARE on crime:
❌ She supports New York’s disastrous No Cash Bail law, which releases dangerous criminals immediately after… pic.twitter.com/ptp4GtW5t4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 14, 2026
The solution, Trump said, is to “vote for Republicans” — and he brought Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman onto the stage to deliver that message. Blakeman is challenging Hochul in the November midterm election.
🔥 BREAKING: Trump-endorsed New York governor candidate Bruce Blakeman just WALKED OUT on stage with President Trump and absolutely WENT OFF
“THANK YOU, President Trump! And God BLESS you for everything you do. We appreciate you. Keep going!”
“I mean this from the bottom of my… pic.twitter.com/kSnsW9OaHk
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 14, 2026
The Long Island rally comes as Trump barnstorms for Republican candidates ahead of the November midterms, positioning the GOP as the law-and-order alternative to Democrat soft-on-crime policies.
