US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is developing 800 National Guard troops in Washington and temporarily assumed the city’s police station, an excellent claim of presidential power in the capital of the nation.
Trump’s move, which bypasses the city’s elected leaders, was emblematic of his second approach, which saw him exercise executive in ways in a little precedent in modern US history and against political rules.
The president has given his actions, as necessary for Washington’s “rescue” from a supposed wave of lawlessness. Statistics show that violent crime increased in 2023, but has declined quickly since then.
“Our capital has been overcome by violent gangs and bleeding criminals,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
This is the second time this summer when the Republican president has developed troops in a democratic ruler city. Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June on the objections of state and local officials.
And Trump marked that other major US cities with democratic leadership could be later, including Chicago, a city that has long been with violent crime, though it was significant in the first half of the year.
“If needed, we will do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster,” Trump told the White House, adding, “let’s hope La is watching.”
Trump has shown particular interest in the takeover of Washington, which is under the jurisdiction of Congress, but exercises self -government in accordance with the US law of 1973.
Hundreds of officers and agents from more than twelve federal services, including FBI, Ice, Dea and ATF, have surpassed the city in recent days. Attorney General Pam Bondi will oversee the acquisition of the police, Trump said.
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The US military said the troops of the National Guard would carry out some duties, including “administrative, logistics and physical presence to support law enforcement”. Between 100 and 200 of the troops would support law enforcement at any time.
Washington’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed Trump’s allegations of uncontrolled violence, saying that the city “is not experiencing a crime spike” and stressing that violent crime has hit the lowest level in more than three decades last year.
The violent crime, including murder, increased in 2023, turning Washington into one of the most deadly cities of the nation. However, violent crime declined by 35% in 2024, according to federal data and has fallen by 26% in the first seven months of 2025, according to city police.
City Attorney General Brian Schwalb called on Trump’s “unprecedented, unnecessary and illegal” actions in a X position and said his office “examines all our choices”.
Bowser did not comment on Trump’s announcement immediately, though other democrats were weighed.
“Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police station and zero reliability on the issue of law and order.
The Trump Ramps Up Rhetoric
Last week, Trump intensifies his messages, suggesting that he could try to strip the city of local autonomy and implement a complete federal acquisition.
The Columbia region operates under the law on the rule of the domestic rule, which gives Congress’s final authority, but allows residents to elect mayor and city council. Trump said last week that lawyers are considering how to overthrow the law, a move that would probably require Congress to recall it.
Trump cited a portion of the law on Monday allowing the president to take over the police force for 30 days when there are emergency terms. Trump said he is saying a “emergency public security” in the city.
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Trump’s Emergency Management Service reduces security funding for the national capital area, an area that includes DC and sections of Maryland and Virginia. The region will receive $ 20 million less this year than the Federal Urban Security Fund, which amounts to a 44% decrease annually.
Trump also vowed to remove the homeless camps, although it did not provide details of how or where the homeless would move.
The federal government holds much of Washington’s Parkland, so Trump’s administration has legal power to clear the homeless camps in these areas, as President Joe Biden did while ongoing. But the federal government cannot force people to move away from the city because they have no refuge, it supports the homeless.
The test begins
A federal trial began on Monday in San Francisco as to whether Trump violated US law with the development of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 US Navy in Los Angeles without the approval of democratic commander Gavin Newsom.
The troops were sent in response to protests on raids by federal immigration. State and local officials opposed Trump’s decision as unnecessary, illegal and inflammatory.
The president has widespread power in the 2,700 members of the DC National Guard, as opposed to states where rulers usually have the power to activate troops. Guard troops have been sent to Washington many times, including the response on January 6, 2021, an attack on the US Capitol by a Trump supporters.
During his first term, Trump sent the National Guard to Washington in 2020 to help cancel the peaceful demonstrations during national protests for police violence after the assassination of George Floyd. Civil rights leaders and city leaders denounce growth.
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