Trump Plans Patrols in Washington, D.C.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced his intention to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C. alongside police and the National Guard during the evening hours. This decision follows his earlier announcement to deploy the National Guard to address a crime crisis in the capital.

In an interview on the Todd Starnes show, Trump made this declaration, saying, “I’m going out tonight. I’ll keep it a secret. All you need to know is you and your many listeners.” He emphasized the importance of the National Guard, noting their effectiveness.

In early August, Trump declared a state of criminal emergency in D.C., leading to significant law enforcement actions since then. According to Attorney General Pam Bondy, there have been 630 arrests and the seizure of 86 illegal firearms, including actions against members of the MS-13 gang. Just this past Wednesday night, police arrested 53 individuals and confiscated 10 illegal guns.

However, some local officials, like DC Police Union Chair Greg Pemberton, have raised concerns about the accuracy of crime statistics, suggesting that the Metropolitan Police Department may have instructed officers not to report certain incidents. Meanwhile, Democrats have criticized Trump’s actions as a political stunt, with California Democrat Robert Garcia threatening government shutdowns if federal troops are not withdrawn from the capital.