Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Violent crime in the United States has declined significantly in 2026, with reports indicating historic lows in several categories under the administration of President Donald J. Trump. Data from the first half of 2026 reveal an 18% decrease in homicides compared to the same period the previous year, placing homicide rates on track to reach their lowest in over a century.
Other notable decreases include a 47% reduction in carjackings, a 20% drop in motor vehicle thefts, a 17% decline in robberies, and a 13% decrease in residential burglaries. Compared to peaks in the past nine years, homicides are down by 51%, carjackings by 73%, residential burglaries by 56%, and motor vehicle thefts by 51%.
The largest homicide reductions have occurred in cities that received federal intervention following concerns about local leadership. For example, Memphis saw a more than 43% decrease in murders, continuing a trend of reduced rates since 2019. Washington, D.C. recorded a homicide decline exceeding 42% in 2026 after a 60% fall the previous year. New Orleans reported a 32% reduction, moving toward its lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years. Los Angeles experienced an 18% reduction this year, following a nearly 20% decrease in 2025.
National media outlets and research organizations, including the Associated Press and NPR, have noted these trends, highlighting the approach toward historic lows in homicide and violent crime rates nationwide.