A new AP-NORC poll shows President Donald Trump’s renewed focus on law and order in major U.S. cities has boosted public support for his administration.
With rising concerns over crime, Trump’s approval on that issue has climbed to 53%, outpacing his ratings on immigration, the economy, and foreign policy, according to The Associated Press.
The shift comes amid widespread concern about violent crime, particularly in urban areas. “He’s elevated it as an issue,” said Republican pollster Whit Ayers. “And if you’re in the White House you’d much rather be talking about crime than tariffs or inflation or a stalemate in Ukraine or than Jeffrey Epstein.”
The president’s latest initiative includes a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police department and the deployment of the National Guard. The controversial move followed an incident involving Edward Coristine, a senior official in the Department of Government Efficiency, who was allegedly assaulted during an attempted carjacking.
Following the attack, Trump vowed to take action. “Be prepared! There will be no ‘MR. NICE GUY.’ We want our Capital BACK,” he wrote on Truth Social, sharing images of homeless encampments and trash-strewn streets. The next day, he unveiled plans for a law enforcement overhaul in the capital.
His administration says the takeover is already producing results. According to the White House, over 1,170 people have been arrested since the operation began, with at least 319 of those arrests tied to immigration violations.
Despite a general decline in violent crime nationally and locally, Trump’s aggressive approach appears to resonate with voters.
The AP-NORC poll found that 81% of U.S. adults see crime in large cities as a “major” concern. Trump’s overall approval rating has also ticked upward to 45%, up from 40% in July.
However, not all Americans are on board. Critics say the crackdown is a politically motivated move designed to distract from controversial immigration enforcement tactics.
In recent months, the administration has faced backlash over reports of college students being detained by federal agents and non-criminal migrants being deported without due process.
A July CNN/SSRS poll found that 55% of Americans believed Trump’s immigration policies had gone too far, a 10-point increase from February. The same AP-NORC survey that showed support for his crime policies also showed his immigration approval underwater at 43%.
Nonetheless, the Trump administration insists it has not abandoned its focus on immigration. Rather, officials say the two issues—crime and immigration—are tightly linked. As part of the D.C. operation, federal agents have set up checkpoints and detained individuals based on their immigration status.
The American Immigration Council called the move a “Backdoor for Immigration Enforcement,” citing unprecedented coordination between local D.C. police and federal immigration agents.
Still, Trump’s messaging has remained consistent. His campaign previously released videos pledging to “End Crime and Restore Law and Order” and “the Nightmare of the Homeless, Drug Addicts, and Dangerously Deranged on American Streets.” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, “Making America Safe Again was a key campaign promise for President Trump – he has long talked about addressing violent crime, especially in our nation’s capital, and ensuring all Americans feel safe in their communities.”
Some voters remain skeptical. “I think he’s trying to keep his numbers up because he knows the 2026 midterms are coming up,” said Tim Roemer, a lifelong Democrat from Utica, New York. “He knows how to win people over, unfortunately.”
As public attention shifts, the administration’s ability to steer the conversation toward crime—and away from immigration missteps—may shape voter sentiment heading into the midterms.
