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In a heightened political climate, former president Donald Trump has leaned heavily into rhetoric based on attacking Democratic governed cities, namely Los Angeles. Trump branded LA an epitome of lawlessness, decay, and failed liberal leadership, and the last few weeks have constructed Los Angeles and its political progressivism to anchor the story of his 2024 election narrative. In turn, Angelenos from a broad array of communities have pushed back, defending the spirit of Los Angeles, the challenges it faces, and the capacity of the city to rise to that challenge. This analysis will look at how Trump’s assertions stack up against the facts, how leaders and residents of Los Angeles responded, and the politics of this confrontation.
Context
Trump’s latest outburst at a campaign rally was first noted when he called Los Angeles “a city under siege by its leadership,” citing homelessness, crime, immigration, and other issues. This is not new for him; many times while he was president, he and now in his post-presidency political life, he would criticize and point to Democrat run cities, as an example of what he saw as failed governing. But the specificity and tone of this current condemnation have heightened already tense relationships, not only consternation and political denunciation, but civic action.
Over 75,000 people in L.A. County are experiencing homelessness in 2024, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) most recent point-in-time count, a 9% increase from the previous year. Although this data goes a long way to verify our concerns about housing instability, it’s hardly unique to Los Angeles and the conditions leading to its development have resulted from many factors including, but not limited to: high housing costs, the lack of mental health infrastructure and the economic pressures exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump’s suggestion that Los Angeles is “crime-infested” is not supported by sophisticated evidence. Based on LAPD data from early 2025:
The homicide rate is 10% lower than in 2023.
Violent crime is down 7%, but property crime is up slightly — car theft in particular.
These indicative numbers show both progress and ongoing challenges – Trump’s sweeping statement neglects the nuance inherent in urban crime trends and reflects trends in cities across red and blue states alike.
Trump also blamed immigration for declining conditions. But studies, including those from the American Immigration Council, found no consistent evidence that undocumented immigration leads to increasing crime rates. Immigrants in L.A. are major economic participants, making up a healthy percentage of the city’s essential workforce.
Trump’s assertions mainly resonate with his political base and are frequently repeated by right-leaning media outlets. However, seldom do those claims come with independent verification or recognition of how local actors are working to tackle those issues. By comparison, responses from L.A. leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass, are coming from a policy-driven perspective and show a commitment to community engagement.
Mayor Bass said, “LA is not perfect, but we’re investing in solutions; we will not scapegoat communities.” She highlighted the programs we have, such as Inside Safe, a program to bring unhoused people into permanent housing with supportive services, and is a model being looked at by other municipalities.
Implications
Trump’s amplified rhetoric has the potential to exacerbate polarization and hinder collaboration between the federal and municipal levels of government. By framing cities as the enemy, this rhetoric may:
Discourage federal investment in critical urban infrastructure.
Alienate immigrant communities, many of which already feel singled out by wider narratives.
Fuel misinformation, which may undermine public trust in local law enforcement and public health.
On the other hand, this friction has galvanized civic engagement. In Los Angeles, there have been spikes in voter registration campaigns and neighborhood meetings as residents seek to take back their stories and amplify successes in local communities.
Although Los Angeles is dealing with real and urgent matters, the representation of a failing and chaotic city is inaccurate and politically motivated. Trump’s escalation is a tactical choice for his campaign and a strategic rather than a nuanced critique of policy. Angelenos are dealing with real economic and social problems, but time and again, they have shown resilience and community in the face of challenges.
Examining claims, checking facts, and including voices from the ground gives a more complicated picture: a city under duress, but not a city at war with itself. If anything, this issue reveals a larger national struggle about how cities are perceived and who gets to tell the story.
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