President Trump announced Monday that he is taking control of Washington, D.C.’s police force and sending in the National Guard, calling it a bold step to reclaim the capital from what he describes as rampant crime and disorder.
Labeling the move “Liberation Day,” Trump said the city, which he claims is “one of the most dangerous in the world,” needs immediate federal intervention. His order will place Attorney General Pam Bondi in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department’s more than 3,000 officers, marking the first time a president has invoked the Home Rule Act to seize temporary control of D.C.’s police.
The plan includes deploying 800 National Guard members, with Trump warning he may call in the military “if needed.” The D.C. National Guard is unique in that it answers solely to the president. Additionally, his administration is clearing homeless encampments from public parks.
“We’re going to take our Capital back,” Trump declared, blaming “violent gangs,” “roving mobs,” and “drugged-out maniacs” for the city’s troubles.
Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move “unsettling and unprecedented” but said she would comply, framing it as an opportunity for cooperation, though she objected to Trump’s hint at military involvement, saying, “We don’t believe it’s legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil.”
Ironically, city data shows violent crime — including homicides — has dropped for the second year in a row, with murders down 12% compared to 2024. Still, crime rates remain higher than a decade ago.
The announcement follows a weekend surge of 450 federal officers into the city, leading to arrests for weapons violations, drug possession, and immigration enforcement. Trump insists the crackdown will continue until the capital is “safe and free again.”
