Trump Deploys National Guard to Combat Washington\’s Rising Crime Wave
Federal Takeover in Washington, DC: Trump’s New Crime Plan
President Donald Trump announced Monday he will mobilize the National Guard and federal law‑enforcement to wrest control of the capital’s policing system.
Key Moves in the Democratic Capital
- Transfer the DC Metropolitan Police to federal oversight.
- Deploy the National Guard to confront rising violence.
- Target homeless encampments across the city.
Background: The City’s Legal Status
Washington, the federal district, operates under a unique relationship with Congress that has limited its self‑governance since the mid‑1970s. The Home Rule Act allows a mayor and city council, yet the federal government still controls the city’s budget and external policy.
Crime Statistics and Trump’s Comments
Data released by the DC police show a sharp decline in violent offenses between 2023 and 2024, although the decrease followed a post‑pandemic surge. Trump criticized local police for being “too soft” and threatened a federal takeover:
“This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back,” he told reporters at a White House press conference.
Related Federal Actions and Trump’s Immigration Legacy
The new strategy echoes Trump’s earlier border policies that sealed the southern frontier with mass deportations and his deployment of active‑duty troops to quell protests in Los Angeles. Trump said he will extend the policy to other crime‑riddled cities, spotlighting New York and Chicago.
Homeless Policy and Trump’s Social Media Posts
Last month Trump signed an order that eases the arrest of homeless individuals. He posted on Truth Social that he wants to “stop violent crime,” push homeless people out of the capital, and “make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.” Trump promised that homeless individuals will have “places to stay, far from the Capital,” and that criminals will be jailed “very fast.”
