Washington, DC [US], August 11 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that Washington, D.C., will be “liberated” today, with the city’s police department placed under federal control and the National Guard deployed to tackle crime, CNN reported.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser questioned Trump’s motives, noting that violent crime has decreased in the city, and expressed concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets.
The announcement comes despite a preliminary year-to-date comparison from Washington, D.C., police showing that 2025 crime numbers are lower than last year’s, as per CNN. Trump invoked the D.C. Home Rule Act to assert federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department, citing the need to “make our capital safer.”
The National Guard will be deployed to support local policing efforts, with Trump emphasizing the need for a tough approach to crime. He also vowed to address homelessness in the city, promising to provide alternative housing options for those currently living on the streets, though some homeless residents have raised concerns about displacement.
The announcement followed an assault last week on a well-known employee of the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump is expected to announce the activation of hundreds of Washington, D.C., National Guard troops this morning as part of his effort to address crime in the nation’s capital, two US officials told CNN.
The DC National Guard forces are expected to provide safety and security support to law enforcement, though one of the officials said many operational details remain unclear, such as troop placement, command-and-control structure, and the duration of deployment.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to join Trump for the announcement, CNN reported.
As president, Trump has broad authority over certain aspects of the city’s affairs, including law enforcement. However, he will need congressional approval to exert the level of control over Washington, D.C., that he has proposed.
There are dozens of federal law enforcement agencies in the city that answer to the Trump administration, and the president has already ordered a surge of hundreds of federal officers to supplement the city’s police department in some neighborhoods, CNN reported. Plans include scores of FBI agents patrolling city streets. Trump also has the authority to deploy the DC National Guard.
Washington, D.C., is managed under Home Rule, a 1973 law granting Congress oversight and authority over the capital while allowing residents some control over local governance, CNN noted.
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