Is US crime at a historic low?
BBC Verify assesses claims by the Trump administration that crime and murder in the US are at their lowest levels for 125 years.
Coverage by Political Leaning
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Notable Quotes
"the crime rate now is the lowest it's been since 1900, that's 125 years"
— Donald Trump , Politician
"If the FBI were to substantially revise down the 2024 homicide rate and/or if the official 2025 homicide rate ultimately comes in higher than our current estimate, 2025 may not be the lowest ever recorded - but it would still rank among the lowest homicide rates observed in the US since 1900."
— Ernesto Lopez , Academic
"Didn’t you know that? I’d say that in a speech and everybody was surprised because the press doesn’t like to tell it like it is."
— Donald Trump , Politician
"When he talks about the 47 years and the rate, I’m handed the information, I think you referred to it as well, that we have had an increase from 2014 to 2015."
— Kellyanne Conway , Politician
"And, again, Kellyanne, the media doesn’t report it because it’s a lie, because it’s not true."
— Jake Tapper , Other
Key People
Professor of criminology at the University of Miami.
Former president of the United States known for his aggressive economic policies.
One of the authors of a study on homicide rates.
Jake Tapper is a journalist and anchor at CNN.
US crime expert analyzing FBI data.
Kellyanne Conway is a senior advisor to Donald Trump.
Tags
All Coverage
BBC Verify assesses claims by the Trump administration that crime and murder in the US are at their lowest levels for 125 years.
A study by the Council on Criminal Justice found that murders in the U.S. dropped by over 20% in 2025, marking the largest one-year decline on record and potentially the lowest murder rate since 1900.
President Trump falsely claimed that the U.S. murder rate was at a 47-year high, despite FBI data showing it was near a 57-year low at the time.
CNN fact-checked President Trump's assertion that the U.S. murder rate was at a 47-year high, revealing that the actual rate was significantly lower than claimed.
CNN fact-checked claims made during the Republican National Convention, including false assertions about rising crime rates, highlighting that violent crime had actually declined in recent years.
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