Mayor Michelle Wu said she’s talking with “allies” in cities where President Trump has sent military and law enforcement personnel to understand what a potential National Guard deployment might look like in Boston.
In an interview with WBUR’s Morning Edition, Wu said Boston police don’t need federal help to combat crime and disorder in the city.
Here are key takeaways from that conversation.
Wu called Boston a national leader in crime reduction
Trump often refers to American cities as crime-ridden “hellholes.” In a lawsuit filed earlier this month, the Trump administration wrote that Wu’s approach to immigration enforcement “endangers public safety.”
Wu disputed that, citing Boston’s low violent crime rates. Boston had just 24 homicides in 2024, it’s lowest rate in decades, and among the lowest in the U.S. While homicides are up in 2025, there have been fewer shootings this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to Boston Police data released Monday. Violent crime is down by 4% during that same period, according to the new data.
“This is the most fundamental underlying narrative battle that’s happening right today in the country,” she said. “ What we feel on the ground here in Boston, and what I hear from my mayoral colleagues around the country, is that cities are thriving.”
Wu said it’s important that she deliver a consistent, positive message to Boston residents — and the federal government — about the state of violent crime in the city.
“When we all come together and really focus on something,” she said, “We can make a difference in really intractable issues.”
She’s in touch with leaders in cities with federal deployments
Trump said he’ll next deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee and Portland, Oregon in what he’s described as a nationwide crackdown on crime and disorder.
Wu said she’s preparing in case the White House eventually trains its focus on Boston.
“ First, we will continue making clear that we do not need and do not want militarization on our streets,” she said. ”We’re also in close communication with some of our key allies and others on the ground, trying to learn from their experiences, whether it’s from community organizations or from the elected leaders themselves in other communities.”
Wu said she’s exploring legal options to prevent or limit the scope of a National Guard deployment in Boston.
Shoplifting is a problem
While violent crime is down in Boston, other kinds of crime are on the rise. According to the Boston Police Department, shoplifting is up 15% year-over-year.
According to Wu, the problem is driven by online platforms like retailer where stolen goods can be easily resold.
“It’s a changing world, right?” she said. “There is just so much more incentive for people to grab things.”
Wu said that the city is working with Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden to track and more aggressively prosecute repeat shoplifters.
This article was originally published on September 30, 2025.
This segment aired on September 30, 2025.
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