Portland, Oregon, is seeing one of the sharpest declines in violent crime nationwide, contradicting former President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that the city is “living in hell.” Newly released data shows a dramatic reduction in homicides and shootings, marking a significant turnaround from recent years of record-breaking violence.
Trump’s Remarks vs. Reality
Earlier this month, and again last Friday, Trump criticized Portland while referencing protests that occurred outside the city’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. He argued that the city was “out of control” and hinted that National Guard troops could be sent in to restore order.
However, crime figures released by the Portland Police Bureau tell a very different story. Instead of spiraling chaos, Portland has experienced substantial declines in violent crime through the first eight months of 2025.
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Steep Decline in Killings and Shootings
Between January and August, Portland recorded 25 homicides, representing a nearly 52% drop from 2024. This dramatic decrease places Portland at the top of the Major Cities Chiefs Association survey, which tracked crime in 68 U.S. cities during the same period.
Gun violence has also fallen sharply. Police recorded 386 shootings, down 33% compared to the previous year. In fact, for the first time since 2020, Portland went two separate months without a single homicide—a milestone that underscores the city’s progress.
Broader Trends in Violent Crime
Other violent crime categories also show signs of improvement. Through August, Portland reported:
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1,982 aggravated assaults — a 3% decline compared to 2024
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668 robberies — an 8% decrease from last year
The downward trend suggests that the city, which struggled with surging violence in 2021 and 2022, is now stabilizing.
National Context
The drop in violent crime is not unique to Portland. Nationwide, cities are reporting reductions in homicide rates. Still, Portland’s turnaround stands out as the steepest decline in killings among the 68 cities surveyed, giving it a rare distinction in the national landscape.
A City Changing the Narrative
While Trump has used Portland as a political talking point, painting it as a city in disarray, the reality on the ground is more nuanced. Portland continues to grapple with challenges such as homelessness, addiction, and political polarization. But in terms of violent crime—the very issue Trump emphasized—residents are seeing measurable improvements.
Local officials have credited community-based violence prevention programs, investments in outreach, and expanded collaboration between police and civic groups as part of the turnaround. The data provides evidence that long-term strategies are beginning to pay off.
Moving Forward
For Portlanders, the numbers offer a degree of reassurance after years of national headlines casting the city as unstable. The city is not “living in hell,” as Trump claimed; instead, it is experiencing the most dramatic drop in homicides in the nation.
As the city looks to sustain these improvements, the message from Portland’s latest crime figures is clear: despite political rhetoric, the reality is one of progress and recovery.
