A recent survey indicates that most residents in the capital city are against President Trump’s plan to take control of the local police station.
The latest findings, released on Wednesday, show that 69% of those polled expressed strong opposition to the president’s decision to federalize the police force. An additional 10% said they were somewhat opposed.
On the other hand, 9% of participants “strongly” backed the administration’s takeover, while 8% offered somewhat support for the crackdown on crime. About 4% reported having no opinion on the matter.
Trump defended his actions by citing rising violent crime and carjackings in the capital. However, recent data suggest that crime levels in the area have actually decreased. This week, the Department of Justice announced it is starting an investigation into the local crime statistics.
Additionally, the president has sent hundreds of National Guard troops to assist in patrolling the streets, amid increasing tensions that have led some residents to carry weapons.
The poll illustrates a clear discomfort among many in D.C. regarding the administration’s show of force.
“Trump’s intense rhetoric about crime in D.C. has resonated strongly with locals who feel frustrated by the portrayal of their city,” noted Mark Rosell, director of the Schaal School of Policy at George Mason University.
“The federal takeover of city operations naturally invites backlash, and that’s definitely evident here,” he added. “Residents feel that the situation isn’t as dire as the president suggests, and they want to reclaim their city’s image from his narrative, which they see as damaging.”
Meanwhile, states like South Carolina and West Virginia are also deploying their National Guard troops to assist the president’s police efforts. Trump is advocating for extending the federalization of law enforcement beyond the 30 days allowed by the city’s Home Rules Act.
“This doesn’t make any sense. It really doesn’t,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser remarked during a recent press conference. “The crime figures in the district do not support the influx of troops from other states that are coming to D.C.”
According to the most recent poll, around 31% of respondents viewed crime in the area as “very serious,” while 41% regarded it as “moderately serious.” Approximately 28% considered it “not too serious” or “not at all serious.”
The Post-Shircherling School poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, conducted from August 14-17 with responses from 604 Washington residents.
