On Tuesday, President Trump ventured just outside the White House, enjoying dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab in downtown Washington, where he discussed efforts to combat federal crime—a topic he emphasized nearly a month after deploying the National Guard to the area.
Accompanied by Vice President Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump highlighted the changes in D.C. over the past year. “Last year, it was a very dangerous place. For the past 20 years, it hasn’t been very safe,” he mentioned.
He hinted at announcing a new city for federal law enforcement assistance “probably tomorrow,” pointing specifically to Chicago and New Orleans as potential targets for crime reduction efforts. “Here I stand out in the middle of the street. I wouldn’t have done this three or four months ago; I certainly didn’t do it a year ago. It was one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Now it’s as safe as being in the country. Everyone should go outside,” he remarked.
Trump expressed appreciation for the National Guard’s role in enhancing security in the capital since August 11. “The National Guard, they’re working with the mayor, and we’re all collaborating. The results are really spectacular, and we have a very safe capital,” he stated.
Last month, Trump returned to restaurants in D.C., claiming they now feel safe and have seen consistent patronage. Meanwhile, the White House reported that there have been 2,177 total arrests in D.C., which included 20 gang members and the seizure of 222 firearms. Notably, seven missing children were rescued, and an encampment of 50 homeless individuals was dismantled.
The White House also indicated that 57 arrests occurred on Monday night alone, with 14 of those involving immigrants. Additionally, eight firearms were confiscated during these operations.
On the same night, over 3,200 federal law enforcement personnel from 22 agencies participated in patrolling D.C. streets.
