President Donald Trump this week compared violent crime in Washington, D.C., to levels in Lima, Peru, citing the Peruvian capital as an example in his push for restoring public safety.
Speaking during an August 11 White House discussion on crime, Trump referenced Lima alongside other cities he described as unsafe, asking, “Do you want to live like this?” His remarks came as he announced a series of initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime in the U.S. capital.
According to data from ComexPerú and Peru’s National Institute of Statistics (INEI), Lima’s 2024 homicide rate was 7.7 per 100,000 residents. While that figure is below Washington’s homicide rate, Lima has faced public criticism over insecurity and rising street crime in recent years.
Lima’s mayor, Rafael López Aliaga, is a businessman-turned-politician who has led the city since January 2023 and heads the Popular Renewal party. He previously served as a Lima city councilor and finished third in Peru’s 2021 presidential race.
In May, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies published an opinion piece describing López Aliaga as “China’s man in Lima,” citing his administration’s openness to Chinese investment in mining and infrastructure. The authors warned that such projects could deepen Beijing’s influence over Peru’s critical mineral sector.
Peru is one of the world’s largest producers of copper and zinc, with China accounting for more than 30% of its exports. Analysts say the country’s economic ties to Beijing have become a point of contention in regional geopolitics, especially as the United States seeks to secure supply chains for strategic minerals.
