President Donald Trump recently announced a major federal initiative aimed at addressing crime in Washington, D.C., promising a firm approach to restoring order in the nation’s capital.
On Monday, the president outlined plans that include deploying the National Guard to support the Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days and urging the homeless population to “move out immediately.” Trump emphasized that there would be no leniency in the effort, signaling a strict law enforcement stance.
“Before the tents, squalor, filth, and crime, it was the most beautiful capital in the world. It will soon be that again,” Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social.
Trump characterized Washington, D.C., as a “sanctuary” facing challenges related to crime, referencing a higher homicide rate compared to some other large cities. However, official data indicates that violent crime in the city has decreased to a 30-year low.
The president cited Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to justify the federal intervention. Currently, approximately 800 National Guard members have been deployed to patrol the city’s streets, according to reports.
In a controversial comment, Trump stated that officers may use strong measures when met with resistance. “That’s the only language they understand,” he told reporters. “You spit, and we hit, and they can hit real hard.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the federal action as “unsettling and unprecedented,” though noted it was somewhat expected given the president’s previous statements.
The announcement has sparked widespread discussion online, with some critics expressing concern about the potential for increased police force and the implications for civil liberties.
This federal action comes amid ongoing legal debates about the use of the National Guard by the Trump administration. Recently, a similar deployment during immigration protests in Los Angeles faced legal challenges from California officials, who argue that such actions violate state control over National Guard units. The administration maintains that its actions comply with federal law.
President Trump described the effort as a reclaiming of the capital city. “This is liberation day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” he declared.
For Trump, the message is unmistakable: “Today marks liberation in D.C., and we are reclaiming our capital.”
