US President Donald Trump, alongside (from left) Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, and FBI Director Kash Patel, speaks throughout a information convention to debate crime in Washington, DC, within the Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home in Washington, DC, on August 11, 2025. President Donald Trump introduced Monday that he was deploying Nationwide Guard troops and placing the Washington police power beneath federal management to sort out crime within the US capital. “That is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital again,” Trump mentioned at a White Home press convention. —Photograph by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Agence France Presse
WASHINGTON DC, United States — US President Donald Trump mentioned Monday he’ll deploy navy and federal regulation enforcement in Washington as he seeks to curb violent crime within the nation’s capital.
The Republican chief instructed a White Home information convention he plans to position the DC Metropolitan Police beneath the direct management of the federal authorities whereas sending within the Nationwide Guard.
The overwhelmingly Democratic metropolis faces allegations from Republican politicians that it’s overrun by crime, suffering from homelessness and financially mismanaged—though violent offenses are down.
”That is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital again,” Trump mentioned.
Trump—a convicted felon who has pardoned round 1,500 folks concerned within the 2021 US Capitol riot in Washington—has complained that native police and prosecutors aren’t robust sufficient.
He has repeatedly threatened a federal takeover of town of 700,000, saying crime in Washington was “completely uncontrolled.”
The brand new method echoes Trump’s immigration insurance policies which have successfully sealed the southern border amid mass deportations whereas deploying active-duty troops in opposition to protesters in Los Angeles.
The president instructed reporters he deliberate to roll out the coverage to different cities, spotlighting issues in New York and Chicago.
In contrast to the 50 states, Washington operates beneath a singular relationship with the federal authorities that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary management over native issues.
For the reason that mid-Nineteen Seventies, the House Rule Act has allowed residents to elect a mayor and a metropolis council, though Congress nonetheless controls town’s funds.
“There’s completely no want for the Nationwide Guard right here,” Elizabeth Critchley, 62, mentioned at a protest outdoors the White Home. “It’s all for present. It’s only a huge theater.”
Knowledge from Washington police present vital drops in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, though that was coming off the again of a post-pandemic surge.
Crime is ‘ending’
Trump posted on social media forward of the information convention that he additionally needs to sort out homeless encampments, after signing an order final month making it simpler to arrest homeless folks.
Trump ordered homeless folks to “transfer out” of town in a Reality Social put up on Sunday, vowing to “make our Capital safer and extra stunning than it ever was earlier than.”
He promised people “locations to remain,” however “FAR from the Capital.” Trump mentioned criminals could be jailed and that it might all occur “very quick.”
Federal regulation enforcement have already elevated their presence after a former Division of Authorities Effectivity staffer was crushed throughout an tried carjacking.
“Final week my administration surged 500 federal brokers into the district together with from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, the US Marshals Service, the Secret Service, and the Division of Homeland Safety,” Trump mentioned.
“You realize lots of nations, they don’t have something like that… They made dozens of arrests.”
A Gallup ballot in October discovered that 64 p.c of People believed crime had risen in 2024, though FBI knowledge exhibits the bottom ranges of violent crime nationwide in additional than half a century.
“Let me be crystal clear—crime in DC is ending, and it’s ending at present,” mentioned Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi, who was amongst a number of cupboard members flanking Trump.
Trump referred to as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser a “good one who has tried” on the weekend however added that she had been given “many probabilities” to enhance dwelling requirements.
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Bowser has not criticized Trump over his threats to stage a federal takeover, insisting as a substitute that she plans to give attention to their “shared priorities.” —Agence France-Presse
