Washington, August 11 — US President Donald Trump has ordered extensive federal intervention in Washington, D.C., placing the city’s Metropolitan Police under federal control and deploying 800 National Guardsmen to curb violent crime.
Calling the move “DC’s Liberation Day,” Trump said he would take the capital back from “lawlessness, homelessness, and financial mismanagement” — claims rejected by critics who highlight recent statistics showing a decline in crime.
Speaking from the White House, Trump announced that more specialized Guard units could be deployed if needed, accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials.
The president also said similar measures would be implemented in New York and Chicago as part of his “law and order” policy.
Critics called the move political theater, while protesters outside the White House described the deployment as unnecessary and authoritarian. “There is absolutely no need for the National Guard here,” said 62-year-old Elizabeth Critchley, holding a placard that read: “DC wants freedom, not fascism.”
Trump said the operation would be swift and decisive, with criminals arrested and homeless encampments dismantled — and displaced individuals relocated “far from the capital.”
Federal agencies have already increased their presence, with 500 additional personnel from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Secret Service, and other agencies deployed in the city, resulting in multiple arrests.
Although a Gallup survey shows most Americans believe crime is increasing, FBI data indicates violent crime nationwide is at its lowest level in more than 50 years. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “The end of crime in DC begins today — and it will end today.”
