SACRAMENTO, CA – August 16, 2025 – In a pointed rebuke to former President Donald Trump’s frequent criticisms of urban crime in Democratic strongholds, California Governor Gavin Newsom took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to redirect the spotlight toward Republican-led areas, claiming that Shreveport, Louisiana—located in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s congressional district—has a per capita murder rate six times higher than that of San Francisco.
The post, which quickly garnered over 735,000 views, featured a clip from Newsom’s appearance on the podcast hosted by progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. In the 46-second video, Newsom challenges Trump’s narrative on crime, stating, “I think you should start with Shreveport, Louisiana, and Speaker Johnson’s district that has six plus times the per capita murder rate of… San Francisco.” He escalates the rhetoric by questioning, “What about the carnage, Mr. President, in Shreveport? Why aren’t you protecting folks there?” Newsom further asserts that eight of the top ten states with the highest murder rates are “red states,” dismissing Trump’s focus as “bullshit” and an act of “authoritarianism” from an “increasingly desperate” figure.
Newsom’s comments appear to stem from ongoing political sparring, as Trump has repeatedly lambasted California cities like San Francisco for issues such as homelessness, drug use, and retail theft during his 2024 campaign and beyond. The governor framed his response as a call for “substantive counter actions,” emphasizing California’s efforts to address public safety amid national debates.
Fact-Checking the Claims
To assess Newsom’s statistics, recent data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program and state-level analyses provide context. According to 2023 figures (the most recent comprehensive dataset available as of mid-2025), Shreveport reported a homicide rate of approximately 28.4 per 100,000 residents, while San Francisco’s stood at around 4.5 per 100,000—indeed roughly six times lower. However, critics note that urban crime reporting can vary due to underreporting in high-volume areas, and Shreveport’s population (about 180,000) is significantly smaller than San Francisco’s (over 800,000), potentially skewing per capita comparisons.
On the state level, the top ten states by murder rate in 2023 included Louisiana (12.4 per 100,000), Mississippi (10.6), New Mexico (9.4), Alabama (8.9), Missouri (8.8), Arkansas (8.6), South Carolina (8.3), Tennessee (8.2), Maryland (8.0), and Illinois (7.8). Of these, eight are typically classified as Republican-leaning or “red” states based on recent electoral maps, aligning with Newsom’s claim. Blue states like New Mexico and Maryland make up the remainder. Proponents of red-state governance argue that these rates often correlate with urban centers in otherwise conservative areas, influenced by factors like poverty, demographics, and historical trends rather than partisan policies.
Reactions Pour In
The post sparked immediate backlash and support on X, reflecting the polarized national discourse on crime. Conservative users highlighted California’s own challenges, with one reply from @Bubblebathgirl stating, “California has more crime than any state in the country… Gavin Newsom has also imported 10 million illegals into his state for their slave labor. Lock him up!” Another, from @CryptidPolitics , questioned, “Shreveport, Louisiana, also has a 56% Black population. Is Newsom blaming crime on Black people?”—a comment that drew accusations of racial insensitivity.
Supporters praised Newsom’s directness, with @DjOmegaMVP writing, “God DAMN Newsom is so refreshing. Democrats please take notes and stop being cowards.” Other replies pointed to homelessness in Los Angeles surpassing Shreveport’s entire population or shared videos of alleged unchecked crime in San Francisco.
Speaker Johnson’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment, but Louisiana officials have previously defended their crime-fighting initiatives, including increased policing funding. Trump, active on his Truth Social platform, has not directly addressed Newsom’s post as of this writing but continues to emphasize “law and order” in red-state rallies.
Broader Context
This exchange underscores the weaponization of crime statistics in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms, where public safety remains a top voter concern. California, under Newsom’s leadership, has implemented measures like Proposition 36 (passed in 2024) to toughen penalties for theft and drug offenses, while facing criticism for earlier reforms perceived as lenient. Meanwhile, Louisiana grapples with longstanding violence in cities like Shreveport and New Orleans, despite Republican control at the state level.
As debates rage, experts urge caution in interpreting data: Crime trends are multifaceted, influenced by economics, gun laws, and social services. Whether Newsom’s salvo shifts the narrative or fuels further division remains to be seen. For the full clip and ongoing discussion, view the original post here.