US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the National Guard to Washington DC and announced an unprecedented federal takeover of the city’s police force, citing what he described as a surge in violent crime and homelessness.
In a televised address, Trump claimed the capital had been “taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals,” vowing to “take our capital back.” An executive order issued by the White House places the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control — a move never before taken in the city’s history.
“This is about restoring law and order in our nation’s capital,” Trump said, adding that the measure would be accompanied by new enforcement operations targeting gang activity, drug trafficking, and encampments of homeless residents.
The decision marks a dramatic intervention in local governance, drawing the White House into the day-to-day running of one of the country’s largest municipal police forces.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser swiftly rejected the president’s claims, calling them “baseless and politically motivated.” She pointed to official police statistics showing overall crime at a 30-year low, arguing that the city was “safer and stronger” than Trump suggested.
The move is likely to spark legal challenges and escalate tensions between the federal government and the DC administration.
