Trump frames crime as electoral trap for Democrats, Fox News op-ed argues

A Fox News opinion piece argues that President Donald Trump has begun framing crime as a political trap for Democrats, contending that the party's safety policies could cost them at the ballot box. The column attributes the shift to a broader strategy of contrasting hard-line public safety moves with Democratic positions that the author says favor criminals over residents.

Liz Peek writes that Trump has signaled willingness to deploy federal resources, including the National Guard, to clean up public spaces and bolster security in cities. The piece says Democratic officials in states such as Illinois, California and New York have resisted these offers, arguing that they would hinder local control. By casting Democrats as soft on crime, the author argues, Trump is resurrecting a frame that helped Republicans win big in 1988, when George H. W. Bush defeated Michael Dukakis.

Historically, Peek notes that the 1988 campaign featured the infamous Willie Horton ad that painted Dukakis as soft on crime, a moment the column says helped shift public opinion toward tougher crime policies for years. The op-ed also points to the 1994 Crime Bill, championed by then-vice president Joe Biden, which funded prisons and more police. The author warns that Democrats have adjusted course in the post-COVID era, arguing crime remains a critical concern for many voters.

Polling cited by the piece suggests crime remains top of mind for many voters. An AP poll found about two-thirds of Americans view crime as a major problem, with 81% saying it’s a major concern in cities. The numbers show sharp partisan divides, with 96% of Republicans and 68% of Democrats agreeing that crime is a major concern in urban areas.

On the policy front, the article asserts that a wave of Democratic lawmakers has backed proposals seen as soft on crime, including cashless bail for some offenses, shielding juveniles from adult charges and other measures. The author mentions figures such as Gov. Gavin Newsom of California and progressive activist Zohran Mamdani as advocates for reducing reliance on incarceration, citing Mamdani’s past remarks about prisons' purpose. The piece also notes that in New York, the political landscape features district attorneys who signal restraint on prosecutions, and judges perceived as siding with defendants.

Further, the article cites concerns over how city judges and prosecutors shape crime outcomes. It mentions New York's Jeffrey Gershuny, an appointee of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who reportedly released a parolee with a long robbery history. It also references D.A. Alvin Bragg and his early policy moves as part of a broader trend the op-ed describes as soft-on-crime governance.

It also flags concerns that Democratic leaders in cities like Chicago face political pressure as violence rises; Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker are cited as resisting Trump’s offers, even as crime concerns remain top issue for many voters. The piece quotes critics who say such leaders have prioritized social-justice agendas over the needs of residents.

Looking ahead, Peek’s column imagines how crime messaging could color the 2028 presidential race, suggesting an ad that features the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska as a cautionary example of what the author calls lax crime policies. The piece includes a hypothetical scenario in which voters ask why a suspect with a long arrest record was not locked up earlier.

Concluding, Peek argues that Democrats risk political backlash by not aligning with voters on crime and safety, citing polling that shows crime remains a central concern for many Americans. The op-ed closes by urging Democrats to engage on public safety rather than treating it as a secondary issue, warning of electoral consequences if they do not.