PORTLAND, Ore. — Former President Donald Trump recently turned his attention to Portland, once again describing the city as “living in hell” and suggesting that National Guard troops may need to be deployed. His comments, made earlier this month and repeated again on Friday, painted a picture of chaos fueled by ongoing demonstrations.
But crime statistics from the Portland Police Bureau tell a different story — one of steady declines in violent crime following record-breaking years in 2021 and 2022.
Homicides and Shootings Fall Sharply
The most significant improvements have come in homicides and shootings, categories that had drawn national scrutiny during Portland’s surge in violence earlier in the decade.
Also Read
From January through August, police recorded 25 killings, a nearly 52% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. The city also reported 386 shootings, marking a 33% decline from the previous year.
This year, Portland even experienced two homicide-free months — the first time that has happened since 2020, offering a stark contrast to the narrative of unchecked violence.
Other Violent Crimes Show Modest Declines
The downward trend extends beyond killings and shootings, though not as dramatically.
Between January and August, Portland reported 1,982 aggravated assaults, a roughly 3% decrease from the same period last year. The city also saw 668 robberies, down about 8% year-over-year.
While these declines are smaller, they still point to overall progress in reducing violence across the city.
A National Trend
The decline in Portland mirrors a broader nationwide pattern. Data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association show that violent crime has been falling in many urban centers across the United States.
In fact, during the first six months of 2025, Portland recorded the steepest drop in killings among 68 major U.S. cities surveyed by the association. That distinction challenges Trump’s assertion that the city is spiraling out of control.
Trump’s Renewed Criticism
Despite the data, Trump doubled down on his criticism of Portland while speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday. He vowed to “stop” protesters in the city, whom he described as “out of control” and “crazy.”
The remarks appeared to reference continued demonstrations near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, which have occasionally drawn police response but have not contributed significantly to violent crime figures.
A Different Reality on the Ground
City officials and police leaders have noted that while challenges remain, Portland has made substantial progress in addressing violent crime. The declines in shootings and homicides mark a critical reversal after the city endured back-to-back record years of killings in 2021 and 2022.
The improvement also comes as law enforcement and community organizations have stepped up efforts to target gun violence through prevention programs, outreach, and focused policing strategies.
Perception vs. Data
For residents and local leaders, Trump’s comments highlight a familiar tension: the gap between national political rhetoric and the realities reflected in local crime data.
While Portland continues to grapple with homelessness, addiction, and public safety concerns, the portrayal of the city as “living in hell” is not borne out by statistics.
Instead, the latest numbers suggest that Portland is experiencing one of the most significant turnarounds in violent crime in the nation, offering a more hopeful outlook than the dire picture painted on the national stage.
