President Trump is gearing up to take serious action against crime in Washington, DC, planning to threaten a federal takeover as he focuses on the capital. Interestingly, city officials appear to be keeping a low profile and are notably accommodating in response to his initiatives.
This escalation follows Trump’s deployment of federal law enforcement over the weekend, which saw a potential surge of up to 450 officers arriving in the city, according to sources from the White House.
The strategy involves collaboration between the FBI and local police, with reports indicating that as many as 130 FBI agents will be patrolling alongside DC officers. The agents will primarily focus on license plate checks related to stolen vehicles and outstanding warrants, a move that deviates from their typical operational role.
Trump mentioned in a weekend post that he will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. ET on Monday. He teased that the announcement would essentially work towards eliminating violent crime in the District.
“I’m going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it has ever been. The homeless need to leave IMMEDIATELY. We’ll provide accommodations for you, but it will be FAR from the capital,” he stated in his social media update on Sunday. As for criminals, he insists, “We’re going to put you where you belong—in jail.”
Although Trump has made some exaggerated claims regarding crime surges in DC, statistics show a dip in overall crime rates compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data from the Metropolitan Police Department—matching the national trend of decreasing crime in major US cities.
Amidst these discussions, local officials have generally adopted a deferential stance towards the president, perhaps to avoid crossing him, especially given his history of conflicting with the city during his earlier presidential tenure.
DC Mayor’s Soft Approach
Just days after Trump hinted at a possible “takeover” of Washington, Mayor Muriel Bowser broke the city’s silence regarding his moves. In an early Sunday MSNBC appearance, Bowser dismissed the notion of a significant rise in crime within DC and emphasized that the National Guard present in the city is under the president’s command while assuring that she shared common aims with him, particularly fighting crime.
Throughout the interview, Bowser refrained from directly admonishing Trump and expressed gratitude to the federal agencies that collaborate with the local officials.
CNN and other media outlets have tried to get Bowser’s office to comment multiple times, but there have been little responses from city council members on the ongoing issues either. Councilmember Christina Henderson mentioned that crime levels stem partly from Judge nominations delays by both the Trump and Biden administrations.
This subdued reaction marks a distinct shift from Bowser’s more assertive responses during Trump’s initial term, illustrated by her actions to paint “Black Lives Matter” on streets by the White House during the protest period following George Floyd’s death.
When it comes to violent crime, while Bowser believes efforts to decrease crime are in place, creating conflict with federal agencies over the presence of federal officers doesn’t seem beneficial to her. City police often work alongside federal forces, making it crucial for her to delicately balance relations while addressing Trump’s exaggerated claims regarding crime.
Acknowledging this, even federal officials like US Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro praised Bowser for her cooperation.
In an earlier development, the mayor announced plans to remove the Black Lives Matter Plaza after Republican opposition signaled that funding for the district might be compromised, demonstrating a prioritization of financial matters amid tensions with the Trump administration.
Next Steps
Trump raised the idea of federal oversight over DC in February, advocating for “law and order” in the city. His recent plans became more concrete following a carjacking incident involving a former associate of the government.
Post-incident, Trump elaborated that he’s contemplating taking over the Metropolitan Police Department and adjusting the involvement of the National Guard in local affairs. He’s even hinted at looking into overturning DC Home Rule, which now bestows certain oversight powers to local bodies like the mayor and council.
Trump stressed, “We need to run DC properly. This should be the best-operated city in the nation, not the worst.” Under current rules, the president can assume control of the police department for a short duration during emergencies, which may give him access to resources he finds necessary.
However, to enforce actual governance changes in Washington, legislative approval from Congress would be mandated—a challenging feat considering the current congressional structure.
This report included contributions from CNN’s Brian Todd, Alex Daugherty, Shania Shelton, and Josh Campbell.
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