- Sadiq Khan
- Yesterday
Trump federalises Washington DC police, deploys National Guard
-
- Web Desk
- Aug 11, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced his decision to federalise the Washington DC police and deploy National Guard troops in an effort to fight violent crime.
He even warned to bring in US military, if it’s necessary to improve safety in the city, as he invoked Section 740 of the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
“We will bring in the military if it’s needed. By the way, we’re going to have National Guard, we will bring in the military if needed,” Trump said.
At the same time, Trump mentioned that he would replace the Washington DC judges. “We’re going to be appointing some judges.”.
“We have some open spots, and we’re going to take people because the judges are letting killers out. They just say, ‘Go. That’s OK, don’t worry about it’.”
Addressing a press conference at the White House, Trump said, “This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back.”
The US president said he plans to place the DC Metropolitan Police under the direct control of the federal government while sending in the National Guard.
Meanwhile, the move comes despite Washington DC recording a 26 per cent decrease, according to police data, in violent crime last year, the lowest since the pandemic.
Earlier in a social media post, the US president talked about liberating Washington DC and “Make Our Capital Great Again”.
“Washington DC will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!”
He also mentioned his favourite topic — border control and immigration.
“The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), DC is next!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
GETTING RID OF SLUMS AND HOMELESS
Speaking at the media along with Trump, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “Sec Def: “This morning, we’ve mobilized the DC National Guard… You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week.”
Meanwhile, Trump also talked about getting rid slums — a product of the homelessness crisis in the world’s richest economy.
“We’re moving the [homeless] encampments away, trying to take care of people,” he said.
“Some of those people are from different countries, different parts of the world. Nobody knows who they are. They have no idea. But they’re there, getting rid of the people from underpasses and public spaces from all over the city.”
“There are many places that they can go, and we’re going to help them as much as you can help, but they’ll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see.”
To justify his decision, he cited an alleged attack on Edward Coristine — a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer in an attempted carjacking, the killing of a congressional intern and other crimes.
On Sunday, Trump ordered homeless people to “move out” of the city in a Truth Social post, vowing to “make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.”
He promised individuals “places to stay,” but “FAR from the Capital”, saying criminals would be jailed and that it would all happen “very fast”.
UNSAFE, DIRTY, DISGUSTING
And on Monday, Trump said DC has become “unsafe,” “dirty” and “disgusting” and is covered in graffiti.
“We’re also talking about beautification. We’re the most beautiful, potentially, capital in the world,” he said.
“But people come from Iowa, they come from Indiana, they come and then they get mugged. Not going to happen. Keep coming, because by the time you get your trip set, it’s going to be safe again, and it’s going to be clean,” he said.
Trump added: “Very quickly, we’re going to replace the medians that are falling down all over the roads. We’re going to replace the potholes. We’re going to put a nice new coat of asphalt over the top. No, we don’t have to rip the road out and spend seven years building a new road.”
CHICAGO NEXT?
During the press conference, Trump also warned that he could repeat his plan in Democrats-run cities.
He issued the statement given that the Democrats are in majority in large urban centres even in states like Texas.
“If we need to, we’re gonna do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster. We have a mayor there who’s totally incompetent.”
“They’re watching us today, and if they don’t learn their lesson, if they haven’t studied us properly, because we’re going to be very successful. I have zero doubt about that,” he said.
CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL
Although Trump has gone ahead with federalising the DC by invoking Section 740 of the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act, there is a problem.
The president is allowed to federalise the city police for 48 hours before he must notify Congress and for a total of 30 days before he must get approval from Congress.
But perhaps he knows that the Republican majority won’t resist the move.
However, any opposition from some Republicans can make the situation interesting.
You May Also Like
