Trump has a National Guard in Washington and promises a crime crime

President Donald Trump said he had the National Guard in Washington and took control of the city’s police forces as he promised to break up crime and homelessness in the city.

Trump announced an “emergency public safety situation” on Monday, with 800 National Guard troops, which will strengthen hundreds of federal law enforcement officers over the weekend.

“This becomes a situation of complete and complete lawlessness,” he told reporters in the White House.

The mayor of the city Muriel Bowser rejected the president’s claims about crime, and although there was a jump in 2023, statistics show that she had fallen since. The city’s violent crime is also a 30-year minimum.

“I declare historical actions to rescue the capital of our nation from a crime, bloodshed, Bedel and a poor man,” Trump said during a press conference in which he was surrounded by US Prosecutor Pam Bondi, who will lead the city police forces while he is under federal control.

“This is the day of Liberation in DC and we will regain our capital,” he said.

Trump said Washington DC was “taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals”, as well as “drugged maniacs and homeless people.”

According to data from the City Sofia Police Department, the killings dropped by 32% between 2023 and 2024 and reached their largest level since 2019.

There is another significant decrease of 12%this year, data show.

Mayor Bouser, Democrat, admitted that in 2023 there was a “terrible” jump in crime that reflects a national trend, but it was pushed against any claim for a criminal wave in the city.

“We are not experiencing crimes,” she told MSNBC on Sunday. “The president is very aware of our efforts.”

Asked about the comment of White Deputy Chief Stephen Miller that Washington is more violent than Baghdad, Bouser said that “every comparison with a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”

Of the 800 troops of the National Guard to be activated, between 100-200 will be located and support law enforcement at any given time, the army said.

Defense Minister Pete Heget said the National Guards would arrive by the end of the week.

In addition, Trump said he would put the City Police Department under direct federal control using the Colombia House Management Act.

This act was created by former President Richard Nixon to allow Washington residents – which is the only city in the United States that is not in any of the 50 states – to elect a city council and mayor.

But there is also a warning that allows the president to take control of police in the city if there are “special emergency conditions”.

If the president intends to take control for more than 48 hours, they must provide a written notice to the Congress. And even if this notice is provided, they cannot maintain police control for more than 30 days.

On Sunday, when he was asked about the possibility of the president taking control of the city police station, Mayor Bouser replied: “There are many specific things in our law that would allow (this). None of these conditions exists in our city.”

She said she was “concerned” about the implementation of local laws of the National Guard.

Bowser gave a press conference later on Monday, in which she said the president’s order was “disturbing and unprecedented.”

She said Trump’s view of the city was “shaped by his experience in Covid-View during his first term”, which she admitted was “challenging times” for the area.

“It is true that we were experiencing a crime spike after Covid,” she said.

“We worked quickly to put laws that pulled abusers from our streets,” she added. “We saw a huge reduction in crime because of these efforts.”

In addition to crime, Trump also talks about homelessness in Washington for a long time.

“We get rid of the poor neighborhoods,” he said, without giving further details. He said the homeless people would be sent to another place, but did not say where.

Trump added that “everything should be perfect” when dignitaries and foreign leaders visit the city.

“This is a very strong reflection of our country,” he said. “If our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty and they do not respect us.”

Local groups working with stray people in the capital have told the BBC that they have actually made progress in recent years.

Homelessness decreased almost 20% for people in Washington in 2025 compared to five years ago, said Ralph Boyd, President and CEO of SO others who can eat (some) – a group that provides people in the city with homes, clothing and other social services.

He also said that Trump’s proposal to move people from the city is not a long -term solution.

“All he will do is transfer the problem somewhere else in communities that are perhaps less equipped to deal with it than we,” Boyd said.

Meanwhile, outside the White House, protesters have worried about Trump’s actions, gathered and chanting “DC hands” and “home governance”.

“Trump is not interested in DC safety, he is interested in control,” said the event speaker.

In recent days, the president’s actions have been following a series of social media publications in which he criticizes Washington’s government. Trump has long been complaining about the city’s democratic leadership about dealing with crime and homelessness.

He also expressed concern for a former employee of the Government Department (Dogi), who was attacked in the city last week.

During the press conference on Monday, Trump said the employee was “cruelly beaten by a group of roaming thugs” and was “left to drip in blood”.

He also mentioned other officials of the federal government and elected officials who were attacked, including a democratic legislator and an intern.

“It’s a threat to America,” Trump said.

The first time Trump unfolded the National Guard was in June when he ordered 2000 National Guards in Los Angeles to deal with unrest against attacks on uncompanied migrants.

The last time the National Guard was located in Washington was in response to the Capitol rebellion in 2021.

With additional reporting from Madeline Halpert