For nearly two weeks, Washington, DC, experienced something almost no one thought possible: zero homicides. In a city long plagued by violent crime, the turnaround has been striking. And what forced this sharp change in direction in such a short period of time?

It was simple. The Trump administration decided to deploy the National Guard to the federal district and demand that laws actually be enforced. This forced a long-overdue conversation about crime in America’s major cities — and it is exposing a glaring disconnect.

On one side of the issue are the residents of neighborhoods devastated by gang wars, carjackings, and random acts of violence. These are overwhelmingly black communities, families who have been forced to normalize ducking bullets while walking their kids to school. For once, they are feeling a sense of relief from living in constant fear and enjoying the feeling of being able to walk in their own neighborhoods without continually looking over their shoulders.

On the other side is a group of protesters, largely made up of white liberals — many of whom live in safe neighborhoods that are regularly patrolled by police. They insist that Trump’s actions are unnecessary and further proof that he is a fascist dictator who wants to destroy America. Apparently, putting a stop to the deaths of innocent people is his plan to get there.

The contrast reveals a deeper truth about America’s political and cultural divide: some people can afford to romanticize progressive policies (often referred to as “virtue signaling”), while others must live with the deadly consequences of them.

For decades, America’s urban centers — Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, et al. — have been run by Democrats. What do these cities have in common? Sky-high crime, collapsing infrastructure, communities terrorized by violent offenders, and innocent people left to suffer the consequences of failed political leaders who lower penalties against those committing the crimes. Progressive district attorneys routinely reduce criminal charges, release violent offenders back onto the streets, and then act shocked when homicide numbers climb. To everyone else, it’s common knowledge that when you reward criminals with lighter sentences, you don’t get less crime — you incentivize more of it.

However, Democrat mayors seem to hope that their constituents won’t make the connection and instead will listen to their speeches about racism and blaming Donald Trump for their problems.

Unfortunately, per the rampant crime in blue cities enabled by policies that can only be interpreted as having the intention to create a surge in illegal, violent activity, many Americans have grown numb to stories of innocent victims caught in the midst of the chaos or of elderly victims of carjackings. We’ve been conditioned to see this violence as “normal” when a Democrat mayor is in charge.

Some might cynically say that city residents want to live this way, as evidenced by the majority’s voting patterns. However, people are waking up, speaking out, and demanding change. Black families in cities across the U.S. are pleading for safer streets. Local business owners are begging for protection now that they know they actually have access to it.

When Trump sent the National Guard to DC, residents were unsure of what to expect, but it didn’t take long for the cries of relief to emerge. One man walked the streets just days after the boost in law enforcement solved decades-old problems, surprised to see that peace and order were even possible in the city.

Yet Democrats still remain unmoved in their luxury beliefs. Instead of listening to their constituents, progressive politicians appear more concerned with ideological posturing — and appeasing a vocal group of leftist protesters. The protests against Trump’s National Guard deployments have been loud. The screeching of white liberals is ringing through the streets, demanding that the president take the Guard and leave. These are the same people who, when the rallies end, are likely to be able to return to safe suburban homes and quiet neighborhoods, guarded by police, where increased measures never seem to be needed.

Clutching pre-printed signs that call Trump a “dictator,” they dismiss the lived experiences of minority communities crying out for safety. Their message, intentionally or not, is deeply condescending, as if to say, We know what’s best for you. We’ve read the statistics. Your fears don’t matter. Their policies and their protests constantly contradict their claims of being the party of empathy and compassion, when more often than not, they’re not the ones dodging bullets on the way to work, and they clearly don’t care about those who live this way. They’re out there defending criminals while lecturing victims. To the residents who actually endure crime daily, these protests are an insult. It is a glaring form of privilege to oppose measures that keep people safe while never having to live with the chaos those measures are meant — and are proven — to stop.

Critics argue that conservatives should oppose federal intervention on principle. After all, Republicans traditionally champion small government and local control.

That’s still true — but there’s an important distinction to note. Conservatives do not want permanent military patrols on American streets or to normalize the National Guard as a form of law enforcement. We want strong local police forces, well-funded departments, and leaders willing to hold criminals accountable. We believe everyone should expect safety in their communities — not just those who can afford to live away from the crime.

Trump’s deployment of the National Guard is not an abandonment of conservative principles; it is a temporary corrective measure. It can protect innocent people in the short term until they can opt for a long-term solution, like voting for people who actually want to enforce the law and put criminals behind bars.

Ultimately, the success in Washington, DC, proves a powerful point: crime is not inevitable. Enforce the law and support law enforcement, and criminals retreat. For residents who have known nothing but violence, this taste of safety will be hard to forget. And that is precisely what Democrats fear most. Once people see that order can be restored, their supporters will no longer settle for chaos. They will demand more than empty promises and failed policies.

In the end, Trump’s move doesn’t just expose the failures of progressive leadership; it highlights the moral bankruptcy of an elitist class that dares to lecture struggling communities from the comfort of their safe neighborhoods. For America’s most vulnerable citizens, this is not a debate about ideology. It’s about survival.