Donald Trump’s personal lawyer sent a letter to the Center for American Progress threatening a $5 billion lawsuit unless the organization retracts a report on the National Guard deployment. The report, published on July 13, examined crime data in Washington, D.C., Memphis and Los Angeles and found no statistically significant difference in crime trends between cities that received National Guard deployment and those that did not. Crime declines began before the 2025 inauguration, the report noted. Alejandro Brito, a lawyer representing Trump, argued that the report misrepresented crime statistics, deceived the public, and alleged that the administration manipulated data for political advantage. The White House declined to comment and asked for the letter to be sent. Cap’s president Neera Tanden said the lawsuit threat was without merit and an attempt to silence factual analysis. She emphasized that the report concerns crime statistics and government actions, not the president personally, and that the organization will defend its work. Cap stated that the allegations of defamation are absurd and that the statements in the report are factual conclusions based on its research. The dispute remains unresolved.