When President Trump rolled into Washington, D.C. with the National Guard, Park Police, and every federal law enforcement agency he could muster, people across the city finally started asking: "Why wasn’t it done like this before?” That is what was discussed on Thursday’s WarRoom.
Steve Bannon sat down with Dr. John Lott to break down why Trump’s approach is not only innovative—it’s revolutionary.
Quick clip:
DR. JOHN LOTT: In 2023, DC ranked 5th in murder rate among America’s 60 largest cities.
The fix is simple: strong law enforcement and empowering citizens to protect themselves.@JohnRLottJr pic.twitter.com/ujsobQ64f3
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) August 13, 2025
According to Lott, before Trump’s intervention, D.C. had roughly 400 patrol officers for a city of over 700,000. They were stretched thin, handcuffed by restrictive policies, and constantly under pressure to avoid "over-policing.” Enter Trump: Suddenly, there were 850 extra officers on the streets. That’s more than triple the manpower, and Lott says it’s exactly the kind of force multiplier that makes criminals think twice. Simple logic: more arrests, more prosecutions, longer sentences—crime goes down.
Lott emphasized how left-wing policies in cities like D.C., New York, and Chicago have systematically disarmed citizens and neutered law enforcement. Only about 1% of D.C. adults have concealed carry permits, and even then, gun-restricted zones make self-defense nearly impossible. Prosecutors like Alvin Bragg refuse to pursue firearms violations, and many arrests under Biden’s watch go unprosecuted. The result? Crime thrives, and the people who pay the highest price are often the minority communities progressives claim to protect.
Trump’s model, according to Lott, is simple but powerful: make crime risky and costly. When criminals know they will be caught and punished, they stop—or at least think twice. Combine that with Trump’s immigration enforcement—where deported or arrested criminals learn not to commit crimes to avoid consequences—and you get a measurable drop in offenses. Even the FBI’s own numbers, Lott points out, show that certain crimes like carjackings are falling, though still far above pre-2019 levels.
Bannon and Lott framed this as a potential template for other major cities. Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York are prime examples where progressive mayors and left-wing prosecutors have refused to enforce laws, replace police with social workers, and push policies that reward criminals while punishing law-abiding citizens. Trump’s D.C. operation proves that a strong, coordinated law enforcement presence works—and it works fast.
Lott draws a straight line from the economics of everyday life: if apples get more expensive, people buy fewer. Apply that to crime: make it riskier and more expensive to commit, and criminals change behavior. The conversation wasn’t just about numbers—it was about common sense finally meeting courage in leadership. And for residents tired of living in fear, it’s a welcome change.
Trump’s D.C. move isn’t just a tactical deployment; it’s a statement. Crime is out of control, and for years, politicians have danced around the problem, blaming police, poverty, or systemic issues while ordinary citizens suffer. Now, with boots on the ground, arrests being made, and prosecutions actually moving forward, the proof is in the results. As Lott puts it, this is a template for cities across America. If it works in D.C., why can’t it work everywhere?
For anyone paying attention, one thing is crystal clear, Lott said: when law enforcement gets the tools it needs, and when criminals know there are consequences, streets get safer.
For more context, watch this full segment:
