The number of Americans who now say crime is a “major problem” in major U.S. cities is breaking down across interesting racial lines, according to a new poll released Tuesday.
A larger percentage of Black and Hispanic Americans say crime is a “major problem in major cities” than white people, according to the Economist/YouGov poll.
More than two-thirds — 67% — of Americans overall say crime is a major problem, but both Black Americans and Hispanic Americans agree at a larger clip.
The survey found 73% of Hispanic Americans say crime is a major problem while 71% of Black Americans say the same.
Meanwhile, 65% of white Americans say crime is a major problem in major cities.
Majorities across the political spectrum say crime is a major problem.
Republicans believe that the most strongly at 90%, followed by independents at 63% and 53% of Democrats.
Along gender lines, more women — 71% — say crime is a major problem in major American cities then men — 63%.
The Economist/YouGov poll was released a day after President Donald Trump announced the federalization of the D.C. Metropolitan Police. Trump’s rationale — rising crime — did not match reality; violent crime in the nation’s capital is down 26% from this time in 2024, according to the district’s crime statistics.
“This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we’re gonna take our capital back,” Trump told reporters Monday announcing he placed the police department under federal control and deployed the National Guard “to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C.”
Trump’s announcement is unpopular, according to the poll; 34% of respondents strongly or somewhat approve of the move while 47% strongly or somewhat disapprove. Another 20% were not sure what to think of the action.
Democrats and liberal influencers trashed Trump’s plan on social media.
Trump’s 2016 election rival, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, suggested the action was unnecessary with D.C.’s violent crime at a 30-year-low.
“As you listen to an unhinged Trump try to justify deploying the National Guard in DC, here’s reality,” Clinton told her 30.4 million X followers. “Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low.”
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