President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops and taken control of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., citing an “out of control” crime problem — a claim strongly disputed by city officials and Democrats, who point to recent data showing violent crime is at a 30-year low.
Announcing the move at a Monday press conference, Trump declared it “Liberation Day in D.C.” and vowed to “take our capital back.” Under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the president federalized the city’s police force, placing it under direct federal control.
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Armored vehicles and camouflaged troops have since been spotted across the capital, erecting barricades at government buildings and patrolling tourist areas. The administration also confirmed 500 federal law enforcement agents have been sent to assist.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported 23 arrests on Monday night for crimes including homicide, gun offenses, drug dealing, and reckless driving. “This is only the beginning,” she said, promising a month-long crackdown on “violent criminals” in the city.
The decision has sparked intense backlash. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “unsettling and unprecedented,” accusing the White House of an “authoritarian push” and renewing calls for D.C. statehood. Hillary Clinton emphasized that violent crime is at historic lows, while former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of trying to “distract from his incompetent mishandling of tariffs, healthcare, education, and immigration.”
Trump has hinted at similar deployments to New York and Chicago, both Democratic-led cities, fueling concerns among opponents that the measure is politically motivated rather than crime-driven.
