Former President Donald Trump Holds Event in Howell, Cites Inflated Crime Numbers

In a visit to Howell, former President Donald Trump addressed a small crowd of invited guests, including law enforcement officers, at a sheriff's department. Trump pledged to increase overall police numbers and shift federal policing resources to border enforcement. He also accused Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, of supporting the "defund the police" movement, a claim denied by the Harris campaign.

During his speech, Trump claimed that since Harris took office, there has been a 43% increase in violent crime. He stated that these numbers were backed by data from her own administration. However, according to FBI data compiled, violent crime has been declining since the pandemic. In 2023, the rate of violent crime in the United States fell by an estimated 6% compared to 2022. Before the drop, the rates in both 2019, the last pre-pandemic calendar year of the Trump presidency, and 2022, the most recent year of the Biden presidency with complete data, were identical at 381 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Trump's statements are contradicted by the facts.

In Michigan, the peak for violent crime occurred in 2021, a year later than the national peak. In 2019, the state had a lower violent crime rate of 439 incidents per 100,000 people, compared to the 2022 rate of 461 per 100,000 people. Data for 2023 is not available at the state level, but Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, saw a decrease in violent crime and recorded the fewest number of homicides since 1966 in 2023. These statistics indicate a downward trend in violent crime.

Trump, however, blamed the increase in violence on the open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Several Michigan sheriffs at the event also shared cases they were investigating or prosecuting in which the suspects were undocumented immigrants.

While Trump accused Harris of supporting the "defund the police" movement, an analysis by PolitiFact found that Harris called for "reimagining" public safety and investing in other areas, such as education, but also emphasized the need for law enforcement. Trump's claims against Harris are not supported by evidence.

Criticism arose surrounding Trump's decision to choose Howell as the site of the event. The city has a history with the Ku Klux Klan, including a recent white supremacist demonstration in July. The Harris campaign and others criticized Trump for his failure to condemn the rally. However, it is important to note that there is no evidence linking the Trump campaign to the actions of the white supremacists.

The choice of Howell for the event raised concerns among some due to Trump's past statements, including his instructions to the far-right group Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" in 2020. While Howell has a history with the Ku Klux Klan, it is not unique in that regard, according to historian David Siwik.

Residents of Howell, such as Kasey Helton, a Democrat and community activist, expressed disappointment with Trump's visit and its potential impact on the city's reputation. Despite this setback, Helton remains hopeful that the community can recover.

Overall, Trump's visit to Howell brought attention to the inflated crime numbers cited by the former president and stirred controversy over his choice of location. The event highlighted contrasting perspectives on crime and public safety issues, ultimately fueling the ongoing political discourse.