Trump and politicising of policing in America’s cities

‘S President Donald Trump's latest “war on crime in cities” will likely win the hearts of many in the country’s urban population, who are exercised over the high rates of street crime. Gun control is mainly on paper, and firearms account for a substantial number of homicides.

- RK Raghavan

Trump's resolve to make US cities safer is, on the face, laudable. The average white American seems to feel unsafe and impotent without a gun in possession for self-defence. But Trump's campaign comes at a time when crime is reportedly declining in some cities, such as Washington DC and Chicago. This is why his “war on crime’ is raising eyebrows.

Some observers see Trump's move to take over policing in the larger cities, especially Democrat-run ones — albeit statutorily for a maximum of 90 days at a time—as soaked in politics. Crime control in the US is a state/city subject, and the federal government has only a marginal say. Federal agencies such as the FBI, Secret Service, department of homeland security may all perform partial police functions, but are not charged with handling routine crime.