Trump Federalizes D.C. Police, Deploys Guard

President Donald Trump announced on August 11, 2025 that his administration is seizing control of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and deploying 800 National Guard troops to patrol the streets of the nation’s capital. Declaring it “Liberation Day in D.C.,” Trump framed the move as an aggressive federal rescue mission to combat what he described as rampant crime, chaos, and urban decay.

“We’re taking our capital back,” Trump said from the White House. “This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back.”

The Legal Authority: Home Rule Act in Action

Trump’s executive order cites Section 40 of the Home Rule Act, a rarely invoked provision granting the federal government authority over D.C.’s police force during “special conditions of an emergency.” While critics point to falling crime rates, the statute gives the president broad latitude to act if public safety is deemed at risk.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the takeover “unsettling and unprecedented” but conceded she will comply, acknowledging the Home Rule charter requires the Metropolitan Police Department to serve federal directives in such emergencies.

The Crime Data Clash

The decision follows the August 3 assault on 19-year-old Edward Coristine, a former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency, during an attempted carjacking. Trump and his top law enforcement officials—Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro—argue the incident reflects a broader pattern of violence.

But there’s a data disconnect:

• The Justice Department reported in January that violent crime in D.C. dropped 35% in 2024, hitting its lowest level in over 30 years.

• Homicides fell 32%, robberies 39%, armed carjackings 53%, and assaults with a dangerous weapon 27% from 2023 levels.

Still, D.C. retained the fourth-highest homicide rate among U.S. cities, trailing only St. Louis, New Orleans, and Detroit.

A Show of Force and Message to Protesters

Trump paired the federalization of the police with a hardline stance against demonstrators, warning, “You spit and we hit.” He urged officers to respond with physical force to any physical provocation, referencing incidents in which protesters spit on police during past demonstrations.

“They can hit real hard,” Trump said. “It’s a disgusting thing.”

National Guard Role Expands

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that 800 D.C. National Guard troops have been mobilized and could be supplemented by additional units from other states—pending consent from governors.

“You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming weeks,” Hegseth said, describing the troops as “strong” and “tough.”

Critics Call It ‘Political Theater’

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) blasted the move as “political theater,” accusing Trump of manufacturing a crisis to distract from other controversies. “They are making dramatic progress in reducing violent crime in D.C.,” Durbin said, adding that federal control “creates chaos and uncertainty.”

Beyond the Crime Crackdown

The press conference also touched on unrelated policy and personal ambitions:

• Marijuana Reclassification: Trump said the administration is considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

• White House Ballroom: He reiterated plans for a privately funded $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom, slated for completion in 2029.

Context: Why This Matters

The federal takeover of D.C.’s police force is historically rare and politically explosive. Washington, D.C., is not a state—its governance exists under congressional oversight and limited home rule. That means the president can, under certain laws, override the elected mayor and take direct control of public safety.

While Trump frames the move as a public safety imperative, opponents see it as a calculated flex of executive authority that could set precedent for similar actions in other Democrat-led cities. Indeed, Trump hinted other “unsafe” cities could be next.

This moment isn’t just about D.C.’s crime statistics—it’s about the balance between local autonomy and federal authority, a tension baked into the capital’s unique political status.

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