Trump Seizes Control of D.C. Police, Deploys National Guard in Crime Crackdown

In a dramatic move aimed at curbing Washington, D.C.’s soaring crime rates, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is taking direct federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and activating the National Guard to restore order in the nation’s capital.

Speaking at a packed White House press conference, Trump said he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a rarely used authority that allows the president to assume control over the city’s police force. He called the day “Liberation Day” for residents of the capital.

“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump declared. “Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I’m placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.”

The president said a new leadership team would be introduced soon, describing them as “very good people” who are “tough” and experienced in restoring public safety.

In addition, Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to assist in law enforcement operations, vowing they would be allowed to “do their job properly.”

Not a Partisan Issue

Trump stressed that the decision was not politically motivated, noting that crime affects everyone in the city — including journalists covering his administration.

“I understand a lot of you tend to be on the liberal side,” Trump told reporters, “but you don’t want to get mugged and raped and shot and killed. You want to be able to leave your apartment or house and feel safe.”

He compared Washington’s murder rate to some of the most dangerous cities in the world, saying it now exceeds that of Bogotá, Colombia, and Mexico City.

“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs, roving mobs, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people,” Trump said. “We’re not going to let it happen anymore — just like we didn’t let it happen at our southern border.”

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