President Donald Trump voiced support for reviving state-run institutions for individuals with severe mental illness, linking the proposal to broader efforts to enhance public safety in American cities.
In an interview with The Daily Caller’s Reagan Reese, Trump cited historic facilities in New York, including Creedmoor and Bellevue, noting that closures under previous administrations had released many mentally ill patients into society.
Trump framed the potential reopening as a response to public safety concerns, referencing past law enforcement successes in Washington, D.C.
“Yeah, I would,” he said when asked about the idea.
He recalled, “They released them all into society because they couldn’t afford it. You know, it’s massively expensive. But we had, they were all over New York… And I remember when they did, it was a long time ago, and I said they didn’t release these people? And they did. They released them into society, and that’s what you have. It’s a rough, it’s a rough situation.”
The remarks followed Trump’s signing of the “ENDING CRIME AND DISORDER ON AMERICA’S STREETS” Executive Order in July, which targets urban camping, loitering and squatting to restore order in major cities.
According to the White House, 274,224 individuals lived on the