President Biden pushed back Wednesday against Republican claims of a country gripped by a surge in violent crime, pointing to stats that show a decrease in crime since he took office, and claiming his policies have helped to reduce the rates of murder and other crimes that rose during the pandemic. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] In 2023, rates for murder, battery, assault, burglary, property crime and theft “all dropped sharply,” Biden said, speaking to police chiefs and administration officials gathered in the White House State Dining room for a meeting about crime reduction. “That matters, as President, public safety and crime reduction is a top priority,” Biden said. Biden’s remarks come as the killing of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus last week dominates conservative media.