Trump to Highlight Violent Crime Decline During New York Police Academy Visit/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump will visit a Long Island police academy to promote new FBI statistics showing violent crime declined in 2025. The appearance is designed to support Republican candidates competing in closely watched New York races ahead of the November midterms. Trump is emphasizing public safety as his approval ratings suffer over the economy and the continuing war with Iran.
Quick Look
- Trump is scheduled to appear at the Nassau County Police Academy at 3 p.m. Friday.
- The White House says he will release new FBI crime statistics for 2025.
- Officials say the data will show declines in murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
- Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel will join Trump.
- The visit is expected to support Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman.
- Republicans are targeting two Democratic-held House districts in Nassau County.
- Trump narrowly carried Nassau County in the 2024 presidential election.
- Democrats argue Blakeman’s record does not support Trump’s public-safety message.
- Republican strategists view crime as a strong issue with both the GOP base and suburban swing voters.
- Crime experts caution against drawing broad conclusions from one year of statistics.
Deep Look
Trump shifts attention to crime and public safety
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to emphasize his record on crime and public safety during a Friday visit to New York, returning to one of his strongest political issues as Republicans seek an advantage in competitive races before the November midterm elections.
Trump is scheduled to appear at 3 p.m. at the Nassau County Police Academy on suburban Long Island.
The White House said he will unveil new FBI statistics showing that violent crime decreased nationwide during 2025.
“President Trump promised to make America safe again and the data proves he has done just that,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said. “Unlike Defund-the-Police Democrats, President Trump will always stand with our law enforcement officers and deliver safer American neighborhoods.”
Visit targets competitive New York races
Trump’s appearance is intended to help Republican candidates in closely contested races across his home state.
However, the political value of his involvement remains uncertain. The president is dealing with weak approval ratings and an unpopular war with Iran that has continued without a clear end.
Trump narrowly carried Nassau County in the 2024 election, turning it Republican in a presidential race for the first time in more than 20 years.
The county includes two congressional districts represented by Democrats that Republicans believe they can win in November. It is also the political base of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Trump-endorsed Republican challenging Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to accompany Trump. Nassau County operates one of the country’s largest police forces.
Crime emerges as central issue in governor’s race
Friday’s appearance will be Trump’s second trip to New York this year in support of Blakeman and other Republican candidates.
During a May visit to the Hudson Valley, Trump said Blakeman would bring “out of control” crime under control.
Crime and public safety have become significant themes in the governor’s race, with Blakeman and Hochul each arguing that their record offers a stronger approach to protecting New Yorkers.
Hochul visited another Long Island police department in July to announce a statewide investment in law enforcement technology.
Blakeman said in a statement that he was grateful Trump would visit “to tour our outstanding, state-of-the-art law enforcement facilities” and honor law enforcement personnel.
Blakeman welcomes association with Trump
During an interview with Fox Business on Thursday, Blakeman dismissed concerns that appearing with Trump could hurt him among New York City voters.
“When the most powerful person in the world comes to visit you and shows that you have a relationship together, I think that’s a very good thing,” Blakeman said.
He added that even voters who disagree with Trump could value having a governor who can communicate directly with the president.
Hochul’s campaign responded by criticizing Blakeman’s public-safety record and Trump’s immigration enforcement policies.
Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said the governor “has invested billions in public safety to protect New Yorkers — ‘MAGA all the way’ Bruce Blakeman is bringing Donald Trump to tour the county where he let violent crime spike to decade highs and Trump’s unaccountable ICE agents abuse their power.”
Republicans target two Democratic House seats
Republican strategist Matt Gorman said Trump’s visit could benefit Blakeman and two GOP congressional challengers seeking to unseat Democratic incumbents in Nassau County.
Michael LiPetri Jr. is running against Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Jeanine Driscoll is challenging Democratic Rep. Lauren Gillen in the 4th District.
Gorman said public safety is a foundational Republican issue that resonates with Trump’s political base and suburban voters who may be open to supporting either party.
“On the strategic level, crime is an issue that Republicans feel comfortable going on offense with, where the country kind of broadly agrees with them,” he said.
Public safety remains one of Trump’s stronger issues
Trump is highlighting crime while confronting lower approval ratings on other major concerns, including the economy and the Iran war.
An AP-NORC poll conducted in August 2025 found that crime was among the issues on which Trump received his strongest ratings. By December 2025, however, his approval on crime had declined by 10 percentage points.
Many of Trump’s recent speeches in competitive states have concentrated on tax cuts and his economic agenda. Still, he frequently discusses his deployment of the National Guard to Washington, New Orleans and other cities led by Democrats as evidence of his commitment to reducing crime.
Trump threatens lawsuit over crime report
Trump this week attacked the Center for American Progress and threatened to sue the liberal policy organization over a report concluding that National Guard deployments had failed to reduce crime.
Without presenting supporting evidence, Trump wrote on social media that “crime is way down since I took Office, and they know it.”
The dispute underscores the political importance the president places on public safety as Republicans prepare for the midterms.
Republicans see crime message crossing political divides
Jesse Hunt, another Republican strategist, said focusing on crime during the New York trip could help Trump reach voters across economic and partisan divisions.
“The issue of crime and safety is a massive winner for Republicans,” Hunt said. “What we’ve seen from the Trump administration and Republicans in general is a real focus on that issue. And they should highlight the successes.”
The White House said the forthcoming FBI data will show year-over-year reductions in murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Crime specialists, however, frequently warn against reaching sweeping conclusions from a single year’s changes. They recommend examining longer-term trends to determine whether increases or decreases represent lasting shifts.
More on US News