Fact Check: Did Trump say DC police can 'do whatever the hell they want'?
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Monday, August 11, that he was deploying the National Guard to Washington, DC, and taking control of the city's police, while pledging to crack down on crime and homelessness in the city.
Following this, a rumor circulated claiming that Trump said the police would be "allowed to do whatever the hell they want" in response to an apparent crime. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.
Claim: Trump said DC police can 'do whatever the hell they want'
Following Trump's announcement on Monday, a rumor surfaced online claiming that Donald Trump said Washington, DC, police are "standing there, and people are spitting in their face, and they're not allowed to do anything. But now they are allowed to do whatever the hell they want."
The video was shared by several X users.
"You knock the hell out of them. It's the only language they understand ... you spit and we hit. And they get hit real hard ... now they are allowed to do whatever they want" -- Trump on the police response to crime in DC pic.twitter.com/BsDBtKKGbE
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2025
Journalist Aaron Rupar also shared the alleged clip from his X account and wrote in the caption, "'You knock the hell out of them. It's the only language they understand ... you spit and we hit. And they get hit real hard ... now they are allowed to do whatever they want' -- Trump on the police response to crime in DC."
True: Trump did make this statement during his announcement
The claims made in the online rumor are true, as Donald Trump did indeed make the above quote during his press conference announcing the "crime emergency" in DC.
Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act while making the announcement. It grants the federal government authority over the DC police department.
However, the POTUS can take over those powers only for 48 hours, unless he gives Congress a reason for an extension within that time frame, and such powers are limited to 30 days.
During his speech, Trump said that the police could never retaliate when people spat on them. However, he added, he was now allowing the police to do whatever they wanted in response.
"Entire neighborhoods are now under emergency curfews. Just this past weekend, gunfire went through and you saw that — the Navy Yard, I saw it this morning. They saw that they fought back against us," Trump said.
He added, "They fight back until you knock the hell out of them because it's the only language they understand. But they fought back against law enforcement last night, and they're not going to be fighting back long because I've instructed them, and told them, whatever happens, you know, they love to spit in the face of the police, as the police are standing up there in uniform."
National Guard troops appear in DC
US National Guard troops started appearing on the streets of Washington, DC, on Tuesday, August 12, a day after Donald Trump deployed the troops to the city and took control of its police force.
Armoured vehicles were seen at urban centres and tourist sites around the US capital on Tuesday evening.
Officials stated that 800 National Guard troops are expected to be deployed, along with 500 federal law enforcement agents.
Meanwhile, Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, who has denied that crime is out of control in her city, described the troop deployment as an "authoritarian push".
The camouflaged troops have been seen in the US capital since Trump's announcement on Monday. They were seen erecting barricades outside several government buildings and taking photos with tourists.
Notably, 23 people were arrested by federal agents on Monday night, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. She added that the arrests were for homicide, gun offences, drug dealing, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and other crimes.
