Trump Considers National Guard for D.C. Crime Issues

During a press conference on Wednesday, President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of deploying the National Guard to address rising crime rates in Washington, D.C. This discussion follows a violent incident involving a former government efficiency member.

According to a police report, Edward Coristine, known online as “big ball,” was severely beaten early Sunday morning after he intervened during an attempted carjacking. When asked in the Oval Office whether the option to federalize city police forces was still available, Trump responded, “Yeah, crime is ridiculous, so we’re thinking about it.” He noted the stark contrast of crime statistics in D.C. compared to other cities, expressing a desire for a “great, safe capital,” which includes not just safety, but also cleanliness.

Trump’s concerns about D.C. emerged shortly after the tragic shooting of Eric Tarpinian Yachim, an intern for Kansas Republican Rep. Ron Estes. In light of this and subsequent events, the White House is contemplating federal intervention in the city, stating that it hopes the president will address these flaws.

“We have a very unsafe capital,” Trump mentioned, reflecting on how close D.C. came to losing a young man who had confronted criminals the night before. He went further to discuss the aesthetics of the city, expressing frustration over graffiti, potholes, and overall urban decay. “We’re going to make it beautiful… the percentages of crime, robbery, and murder—all that includes possibly bringing in the National Guard, perhaps very quickly.”

On Tuesday evening, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with crime rates in D.C. on social media, highlighting an incident where a victim was “brutally beaten” by “local thugs.” Although he didn’t name Coristine directly, a photo of a young man sitting on a bloodied floor circulated online. Elon Musk, the former head of Doge, responded to Trump’s post, indicating that staff members were victims and urging for Washington, D.C. to be federalized.

Coristine, in a statement from the Metropolitan Police Department, described encountering a suspicious person. The police report mentions that the suspect had attempted to carjack a second victim, leading Doge members to intervene. In the ensuing confrontation, Coristine was assaulted as approximately ten suspects fled the scene. Authorities later arrested two 15-year-old boys from Hyattsville, Maryland, charging them with unarmed carjacking.