Trump’s Michigan Campaign Stop: Inflated Crime Numbers & Concern Over Venue History
Campaign Speech in Howell, Michigan
In a fresh effort to gather support for his campaign, former President Donald Trump made a stop in Howell, Michigan. During his visit to the local sheriff’s department, Trump gave a speech on crime and public safety, inviting a small crowd of guests, including numerous law enforcement officers. However, the choice of Howell for the event, a city with a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) history and recent anti-Black protests by white supremacists, raised questions among critics.
Accusations against Vice President Kamala Harris on Defunding Police
In his talk, Trump launched attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of supporting the “defund the police” movement and soft approach to crime, a claim her campaign strongly denies. “They go after guys like me, but they don’t go after people that kill people,” Trump asserted. He also claimed that violent crime increased by 43% after Kamala Harris took office, alleging that his figures were backed by data from the current administration.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Claim
Contrary to Trump’s statistics, the rate of violent crime in the U.S. showed no such spike. While there was indeed a surge in violent crime during the pandemic, both nationwide and in Michigan, FBI data reveals a downward trend. Over the year 2023, a 6% decrease in violent crime rates was observed, compared to the prior year. The federation’s records also show the violent crime rate remained consistent in the last pre-pandemic year of Trump’s presidency, 2019, and 2022 – the latest year of incumbent President Biden’s tenure. Moreover, the trend continues to move downward in 2024, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.
Baseless Claims on Increasing Violence due to Open Borders
Despite recorded data showing a decline in violent crime following the pandemic, Trump attributed the rise in violence to Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies. Some Michigan sheriffs shared instances of crime committed by undocumented immigrants to support this view while former congressman Mike Rogers proclaimed crime as a crucial issue in the upcoming elections.
Location of Event Draws Criticism
Trump faced backlash from the Harris campaign and more for selecting Howell as the venue for the talk about crime and safety—a town infamous for its historic association with the KKK. Alyssa Bradley, spokesperson for Harris’s campaign, labeled the move as a not-so-subtle dog whistle, calling Trump’s event a “bullhorn”. The former president deflected a reporter’s question about the choice of location by mentioning President Joe Biden’s previous visit to the city. Yet, the reminder of Howell’s difficult past, in addition to Trump’s refusal to condemn the white supremacist demonstration in July, has created uproar..
Community Response
Moreover, residents of Howell have expressed concern about the impact of this event on their city’s reputation. Community activist Kasey Helton noted efforts by local organizations to help the city move beyond its past, stating that Trump’s visit brought attention to the city in a damaging light. Nevertheless, she remains hopeful, stating, “we can come back and we will come back.”
