Former President Donald Trump slammed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as a “disaster” on social media Wednesday, citing crime rates in Atlanta.
“Why is there so much murder…in Atlanta? Why is there so much violent crime in Atlanta?” Trump queried in a video posted to Truth Social. Instead of focusing on reducing the rate of violent crime and tackling real criminals within her jurisdiction, Trump argued, Willis is campaigning on a platform to “Get Trump.”
Trump argued Willis is not alone in her efforts, suggesting other district attorneys are failing to uphold law and order in their cities. “They let the criminals go and they want to get Trump. They want to see if they can get some extra votes,” the former president alleged.
Willis assumed office as the Fulton County District Attorney in January 2021. The following year, Atlanta saw homicides reach their highest level in decades with 34 murders per every 100,000 people, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, citing data from the Atlanta Police Department (APD). Officers probed 170 homicide cases in 2022, the highest number since 1996, according to the outlet. The city also saw an increase in burglaries, car thefts and shoplifting the same year, FOX5 reported, citing APD data.
In 2021, Republican Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan observed that crime had become such an issue in Atlanta he would be working with the state assembly to create a program so residents could make tax-deductible donations to their underfunded police forces.
“It should be no surprise that every state leader is concerned with the exponential rise in crime here in Georgia, especially in our Capital city,” Duncan said at the time. “Rising crime is affecting individuals, businesses, and Georgia families, and combatting this problem will not be accomplished by one solution alone. … Big problems call for big solutions.” (RELATED: ‘Put The Smackdown On This Crime’: Ritzy Neighborhood Files To Separate From Atlanta Over Massive Crime Spike)
Homicides went up by 6% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Journal-Constitution. Burglaries and motor vehicle thefts also increased by 9% and 5% respectively. Still, overall violent crime in the city — to include rape and assault — decreased by 9%, according to the Journal-Constitution.
“She’s a disaster for Atlanta. She’s a disaster for the great state of Georgia,” Trump argued. The former president closed his message on a hopeful tone, promising to “turn it around” by not only making “America great again” but vowing to “make Atlanta great again.”