President Donald Trump is turning up the heat on crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C., issuing a blunt warning to the city’s unhoused residents: “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital,” he wrote on Truth Social Sunday.
The remarks follow his recent pledge to take swift action against crime in the nation’s capital, despite Justice Department data showing violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low, with homicides, robberies, and carjackings all declining. Trump cited a recent attempted carjacking against a former Department of Government Efficiency member as evidence urgent action is needed. “It’s all going to happen very fast, just like the Border,” he said. “There will be no ‘MR. NICE GUY.’ We want our Capital BACK.”
Last month, Trump signed an executive order making it easier for cities to remove homeless encampments, drawing criticism from advocates who argue it criminalizes poverty. His latest comments signal a push to apply those powers directly to D.C.
The White House announced he will hold a press conference Monday at 10 a.m., focusing not only on crime but also on “Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital.” The administration has already launched a seven-day campaign to boost the presence of federal law enforcement across the District.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on Trump’s rhetoric, calling any comparison to a war zone “hyperbolic and false” while urging federal cooperation in improving the city.
For Trump, D.C. has long been a political flashpoint — but his recent tone suggests a faster, more forceful approach, setting the stage for a high-profile clash over public safety and homelessness in the heart of the nation’s capital.
