Trump puts DC police under federal control, deploys National Guard in effort to fight crime

WASHINGTON, DC: On Monday, August 11, President Donald Trump announced that Washington, DC’s police department will be placed under federal control.

He also confirmed the deployment of National Guard troops to the city, citing what he described as rampant crime in the nation’s capital. The decision follows the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer earlier this month in the city’s Logan Circle neighborhood.

Donald Trump declares public safety emergency in Washington, DC

Speaking at a press conference at the White House, Donald Trump said, “I’m deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC, and they’re going to be allowed to do their job properly.”

“This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back,” the president said during the briefing. He added that Attorney General Pam Bondi is “taking command” of the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

“Today, we’re declaring a public safety emergency in the District of Columbia,” Trump told reporters.

He said the move is being made under Section 740 of the District’s Home Rule Act, which allows the president to order the DC mayor to cede control of the police department if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.”

Donald Trump says there will be more police and possibly military presence if necessary

President Trump said more officers will be patrolling the DC streets. “You’ll have more police and you’ll be so happy because you’ll be safe when you walk down the street,” he said.

Bondi, in her address, declared, “Crime in DC is ending and ending today.”

The president said the military would be brought in if necessary. “We will bring in the military if it’s needed. By the way, we’re going to have National Guard. We will bring in the military if needed,” he said. He acknowledged potential criticism but noted that similar actions had been taken before.

Trump also criticized judges in the DC area, suggesting they were too lenient on criminals. “We’re going to be appointing some judges. We have some open spots, and we’re going to take people because the judges are letting killers out. They just say, ‘Go. That’s OK, don’t worry about it.’”

Donald Trump vows to clear 'slums' and relocate homeless

He also said he would remove “slums” in DC and take steps to improve the city’s appearance.

In a Truth Social post earlier in the day, Trump declared that Washington would be “LIBERATED” from “Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum,” claiming that the “days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!”

In a separate post, he wrote that “the Homeless” in DC would “have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” while promising that the government would “give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.”

Crime statistics show a decline despite Donald Trump's federal takeover

The announcement comes despite official data showing that crime in Washington has been on the decline.

Violent crime is down 26% this year compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 20%, and homicides have decreased by 12%, per Fox News.

“What a shame – rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else, we’re not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too,” Trump said.

He called crime in the city “ridiculous” and “totally out of control.”

Internet reacts as protests erupt in DC after federal takeover, national guard deployment 

Online responses were divided.

“Good bring order to the chaos effective immediately,” one Trump supporter wrote on X.

Another said, “This really needed to happen. DC could be so beautiful.”

Critics also weighed in. “It’s getting weirder and weirder,” one person wrote.

“Where was the National Guard on Jan 6, 2021?” another asked.

One user posted, “Someone has to step up and stop him now!”

Protests broke out in Washington shortly after the announcement.

“Democrats don’t want their cities safe,” a supporter wrote, while another commented, “It’s a grand and beautiful morning in America’s Golden Age. All other cities will be jealous that DC gets fixed first.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.