US President Donald Trump on Monday, August 11) announced the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC and the deployment of the National Guard and promised to intervene crime and homelessness in the capital of the nation.
“Our capital was overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, equing crowds of wild youth, dazed maniacs and homeless people,” Trump said at a press conference in the White House. “And we won’t allow it anymore.”
“Metropolitan police departments and federal authorities will be supported in efforts, really great efforts, 800 DC National Guardians that we will deploy. And much more, much more, much more,” Trump said.
Induced emergency forces
Trump quoted a decade -old law, which allows the President temporarily to use control over the city’s police forces. The law grants Washington more than 700,000 inhabitants of political autonomy to election of the mayor and the council, but gives the President an emergency power over security matters.
The National Guard will help with logistics, transport and other tasks to liberate the local police for arrest – like Trump’s earlier deployment in Los Angeles to support federal immigration raids. This operation continued despite the opposition of California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Focus on crime and homelessness
Trump said that combined federal and local efforts would focus on violent crime and street camps. “You want to be able to leave your apartment or house where you live and feel safe, and go to the store to buy a newspaper or buy something, and now you don’t have it,” said the General Prosecutor Pam Bondi and Minister of Defense Pete HegSeth.
HegSeth said that the National Guard units would be expected to arrive in the capital during the upcoming week.
In a post on social media earlier on Monday, Trump wrote: “Washington, DC will be liberated today! Crime, savage, dirt and dirt will disappear. I will, I will make our capital great!”
Crime data show a decline
The President’s step comes despite the data of the local police that show the violent crime in DC, falling for two years. Since January 3, 2024, according to the US Ministry of Justice, a violent crime in the city was at a 30 -year minimum.
However, the tone of the administration changed after a former government efficiency worker was attacked during an attempt to carjacking at the beginning of this month.
(Tagstotranslate) Trump’s press conference
