White House cites declining transgender violent deaths to defend Trump policies

The White House is using data from transgender advocacy groups to defend the Trump administration’s policies. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated that the data supports the president’s “law-and-order policies” and claims that President Trump has delivered the largest decrease in violent crime in American history.

According to reports from the Human Rights Campaign, violent deaths of transgender people were counted at 33 for the period ending Nov. 20, 2023, and 36 for the period ending Nov. 20, 2024, but dropped to 27 in the most recent year. Similarly, Advocates for Trans Equality reported 53 deaths for the period ending Nov. 20, 2023, 43 for the following year, and 27 in the most recent period.

This decline occurs despite warnings from the Human Rights Campaign that anti-transgender rhetoric and policies contribute to a culture of violence. During his second administration, President Trump has reversed several Biden-era policies, including executive branch recognition of gender identity over biological sex and support for transgender medical procedures.