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Mullin Foregoes Seatbelt in D.C., Citing Carjacking Risks

His claim highlights the gap between partisan narratives of escalating urban crime; official statistics show recent declines in violent incidents.

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WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 29: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Legislative Branch subcommittee, prepares for a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on April 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. The subcommittee heard testimony from Congressional Budget Office Director Phillip Swagel, U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro and Government Publishing Office Director Hugh Halpern about the Trump Administration's FY2026 budget requests for their offices. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Senator Markwayne Mullin told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade that he avoids buckling up in Washington, D.C., so he can exit quickly if he faces a carjacking.
  • Washington, D.C. law requires drivers to wear seatbelts and carries a $50 fine for violations, but there is no public record of enforcement action against the senator.
  • City data show carjackings peaked at 607 in 2023 before falling to 299 in the same period in 2024 and to 188 through August 9, 2025.
  • Homicides in the District dropped from 274 in 2023 to 187 in 2024, with the year-to-date count for 2025 slightly below last year’s pace.
  • Republican leaders, including President Trump, have employed similar crime-rate rhetoric to back federal measures such as National Guard deployments and calls to overhaul the Metropolitan Police Department.