4 hours ago
Last Updated:August 11, 2025, 20:53 IST
Trump said he will send in military and federal law enforcement to support local policing efforts
US President Donald Trump, alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (L) and Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) at the White House in Washington. (AFP photo)
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he is placing the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploying the Guard to tackle violent crime in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump said the move was necessary to “make our capital safer."
“This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back," he declared.
🚨 President Trump announces he is invoking the D.C. Home Rule Act to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploy the Guard.“This is Liberation Day in D.C. — and we’re going to take our capital BACK." pic.twitter.com/aqov60mrCW
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
Trump said he will send in military and federal law enforcement to support local policing efforts. The president criticised local authorities, saying police and prosecutors in the city, which has a population of around 700,000, are not tough enough on crime.
The Republican leader has long claimed that Washington is overwhelmed by crime, homelessness, and poor management, despite official data showing violent crime has fallen in recent years after a post-pandemic rise.
Trump’s new approach mirrors his previous policies, including his hardline immigration stance that deployed troops to the southern border and sent active-duty military against protesters in Los Angeles.
He also suggested the federal takeover could expand to other cities struggling with crime, naming New York and Chicago as examples.
Unlike US states, Washington, DC, operates under a unique system where Congress holds significant control over local affairs, including the city’s budget. The Home Rule Act, passed in the mid-1970s, allows residents to elect a mayor and city council but limits the city’s autonomy.
Ahead of Monday’s announcement, Trump posted on social media his plans to “stop violent crime" and clear homeless encampments, following an order last month easing arrests of homeless people.
In a post on Truth Social, he urged homeless individuals to “move out" of the city, promising they would be provided with “places to stay," but “FAR from the Capital."
Trump vowed swift action against criminals, saying, “Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see."
(With inputs from AFP)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:August 11, 2025, 20:51 IST
News world 'This Is Liberation Day': Trump Puts DC Police Under Federal Control, Deploys Military
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