President Trump Announces Federal Control of D.C. Police
On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed plans to put police departments in Washington, D.C. under federal oversight, alongside deploying a national security force aimed at addressing ongoing violence in the city.
During a press conference at the White House, Trump proclaimed, “Washington, D.C. will be released today,” indicating a push to restore order.
“Crime, savages, filth, scum will disappear. I will increase our capital again! The day has come to an end when mercilessly murdered or innocent people have finished!”
The White House also shared data showing a murder rate of 27.54 per 100,000 residents in 2024, a figure notably higher than that of several international capitals.
Trump opened the press conference with a declaration intended to combat what he described as crime and decay in the nation’s capital.
“It’s a tragic emergency, and it’s embarrassing to be here,” Trump expressed. “I don’t like being here talking about how safe, how dirty and how disgusting the once beautiful capital was.”
“This is not a big territory,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for strict rules and effective enforcement.
He made it clear that he had signed an executive order to federalize the city police for a period of 30 days under the authority of the Home Rules Act.
“We have slums here. We’ll get rid of them. We know that it’s not the right thing to do politically. Ah, we’ll say it’s awful. It’s becoming a complete, total lawless situation.”
“We’ll bring the troops if necessary. By the way, we’re going to have the National Guard,” he added, suggesting that joint law enforcement efforts might be ramped up significantly.
Trump also expressed ambitions for revamping the image of the capital.
“We’re also talking about glorification. We’re the most beautiful and potentially capital in the world,” he claimed, expressing concern over criminal activity linked to outsiders.
“We’re going to remove homeless encampments from our entire park, a beautiful, beautiful park that many people can’t walk around,” he continued, noting that some individuals might come from various places, raising questions about their identity.
Attorney General Pam Bondy reinforced the administration’s stance on addressing violent crime, highlighting US lawyer Janine Piro’s role as a tough prosecutor committed to ensuring offenders face consequences.
“Our secret weapon here in D.C. is US lawyer Janine Piro, one of the toughest prosecutors and former judges,” Bondy stated. “There are no more crimes that ramp out to our beautiful capital.”
The President hopes that cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago will take similar measures to tackle their own crime and homelessness challenges.
