President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on Feb. 2, 2026. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump pointed to other major cities where he said his administration has delivered dramatic results when it comes to crime.
"Look at Washington, D.C.," Trump said. "It's like a safe city. You can walk to the White House. You don't have to take an armored vehicle."
The president also cited New Orleans, and Memphis, Tennessee, as examples.
"Look at what happened in Louisiana," Trump said. "I got a call from the governor, ‘Please do something with New Orleans.’ We went there four weeks ago, crime is down 71%."
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Border Czar Tom Homan visits 'Varney & Co.' on Fox Business Network on January 13, 2026, in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
Trump also told NBC News that he made the decision to pull hundreds of federal law enforcement agents from Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of two city residents last month, saying the Department of Homeland Security could "use a little bit of a softer touch."
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On Wednesday, White House border czar Tom Homan announced that roughly 700 federal agents would be leaving the Twin Cities, with the goal of a "complete drawdown."
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch, Ashley Oliver and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Story tips can be sent to sophia.compton@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-defends-minneapolis-federal-enforcement-says-crime-plunged-thousands-criminals-removed