Denver Mayor Rejects Trump's Claim of Credit for City's Homicide Drop

Mayor Mike Johnston says Denver achieved historic crime reduction without any federal help from the Trump administration.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is pushing back against President Trump's claim that the city's more than 40% drop in homicides last year was a 'direct result' of the president's policies. Johnston says Denver received no federal funding or resources from the Trump administration to reduce crime, crediting the work of local police, community programs, and sustained policing strategies instead. The mayor finds the president's assertion 'offensive' to the people doing the actual work to make the city safer.

Why it matters

This dispute over the causes of Denver's crime reduction highlights the ongoing political tensions between Democratic-led cities and the Republican White House. It also raises questions about the role of federal versus local efforts in improving public safety, and whether the Trump administration's policies and rhetoric have helped or hindered crime-fighting efforts in places like Denver.

The details

Denver recorded 37 homicides in 2025, down from 69 the previous year - the largest drop in homicides year-over-year of any major U.S. city. The White House claimed this 'monumental turnaround' was a 'direct result' of President Trump's policies. However, Mayor Johnston says Denver achieved these results 'in spite of Trump, not because of Trump,' crediting local police, community programs, and sustained policing strategies. Johnston says Denver received no federal funding or resources from the Trump administration to reduce crime, and that the administration's immigration enforcement actions have actually made the city 'less safe' by making people 'more afraid.'

  • Denver's homicide rate has been falling since 2023, well before Trump took office.

The players

Mike Johnston

The mayor of Denver who is pushing back against President Trump's claim of credit for the city's historic drop in homicides.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who claimed Denver's crime reduction was a 'direct result' of his administration's policies.

Kush Desai

A White House spokesman who said the nationwide crime drops reflect the Trump administration's success in supporting law enforcement and securing the southern border.

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What they’re saying

“We delivered these results in spite of Trump, not because of Trump. I will give that credit to the folks on the front lines who made it happen.”

— Mike Johnston, Mayor of Denver (9news.com)

“President Trump pledged to Make America Safe Again by supporting law enforcement and restoring law and order. Nationwide crime drops reflect how the Trump administration is refocusing federal resources towards tackling — and actually prosecuting — crime, as well as the Administration's success securing our southern border to stem the flow of criminal illegal aliens and drugs Americans saw under Joe Biden.”

— Kush Desai, White House Spokesman (9news.com)

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing political tensions between Democratic-led cities and the Republican White House, as well as the debate over the relative roles of federal versus local efforts in improving public safety. It underscores the importance of clear, evidence-based analysis in assessing the factors behind changes in crime rates, rather than partisan claims of credit.