President Donald Trump on Monday invoked his presidential authority over Washington, D.C., effectively federalizing the city’s municipal autonomy, arguing the move was necessary to address what he described as the collapse of a once-great capital now plagued by homelessness, petty crime, and widespread lawlessness.
Speaking at a press conference, Trump announced his administration was taking “historic action” to “take the capital back,” which will include deploying National Guard troops and FBI agents to patrol the city’s streets at night. He cited Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which immediately transfers control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to the federal government.
Trump said the coordinated effort between local, state, and federal authorities would aim to “reestablish law and order” in the District. “You’ll be meeting the people that will be directly involved with that,” he promised. “Very good people, but they’re tough… and they know what’s happening.”
“This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump said during a White House briefing Monday morning. “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs, and homeless people, and we’re not going to let it happen any more.”
Overnight, FBI agents deployed across Washington, D.C., and Fox News reported that President Trump may send as many as 1,000 National Guard troops to the city in the coming days. Officials described the move as a largely visceral response from Trump, who, during his daily drives through the capital, has been struck by what he views as rampant vagrancy and trash-strewn streets along the route to the White House.
“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said on social media in teasing the announcement. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
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