- Local police and prosecutors are not difficult enough, says Trump.
- Said at least 800 national guards to deploy in Washington.
- Dozens protest against Trump’s decision outside the White House.
Washington: US President Donald Trump deployed military and federal police on Monday to limit violent crimes in Washington, while seeking to assert his campaign commitment to be a president of “law and order”.
The Republican leader said that he would place the city’s metropolitan police under the control of the federal government while sending the National Guard to the streets of the American capital.
The massively democratic city faces allegations of republican politicians that it is overwhelmed by crime, prey to roaming and financially poorly managed – although violent offenses are down.
“It’s the day of the Liberation at DC, and we are going to resume our capital,” said Trump.
Trump – A convicted criminal who granted a general leniency to nearly 1,600 people involved in the 2221 American Capitol riot in Washington – complained that local police and prosecutors are not difficult enough.
He said 800 DC national guards – “and much more” – would be deployed in the city of 700,000.
While Trump spoke to the White House, several dozen demonstrators gathered outside.
“There is absolutely no need for the National Guard here,” said Elizabeth Crichley, a 62 -year -old retired, who brandished a panel with the slogan “DC says that freedom and not fascism”.
“Everything is for the show. It’s just a big theater,” she said.
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who was one of several officials of the Flanking Trump, said that “other specialized National Guard units could also be deployed.
“They will be strong, they will be hard and they will stay with their partners to apply the law,” he said.
The new approach echoes the immigration policies of Trump which actually sealed the southern border in the midst of mass deportations while deploying active troops against demonstrators in Los Angeles.
New York, Chicago then?
The president told journalists that he planned to deploy politics in other cities, highlighting New York and Chicago.
Unlike the 50 states, Washington operates in a unique relationship with the federal government which limits its autonomy and grants the congress extraordinary control over local issues.
Since the mid -1970s, the Home Rule Act has enabled residents to elect a mayor and a municipal council, although the congress has always controlled the city’s budget.
Washington police data show significant reductions in violent crimes between 2023 and 2024, although it came out of a post-paid-in-country wave.
Trump posted on social media before the press conference which he also wanted to attack the homeless camps, after having signed an order last month, which facilitates the stop of the homeless.
He promised individuals “places to stay”, but “far from the capital”. Trump said criminals would be imprisoned and that everything would happen “very quickly”.
Federal police have already increased their presence after a former staff member of the Government Ministry was beaten during an attempted car diversion.
“Last week, my administration increased 500 federal agents in the district, notably the FBI, ATF, DEA, the Park Police, the US Marshals, Secret Service and the Ministry of Homeland Security,” said Trump.
“You know a lot of nations, they are not like it … They have made dozens of arrests.”
A Gallup survey revealed that 64% of Americans thought that crime had increased in 2024, although FBI data showed the lowest levels of violent crimes on a national scale in more than half a century.
“Let me be clear – the crime at DC ends, and it ends today,” said Prosecutor General Pam Bondi.
