Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 11: President Donald Trump has placed Washington D.C. under federal control, a move he says is necessary to combat "out of control" crime. The decision comes despite government statistics indicating a nationwide decline in violent crime, including in the capital. Trump's administration cited specific, high-profile incidents, such as the carjacking of former DOGE executive Edward Coristine, to justify the takeover of the heavily Democratic city.
During a White House press conference, Trump declared a public safety emergency, signing executive orders for the federal takeover. "This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back," he said, vowing to address issues of violent crime, drug use, graffiti, and homelessness.
Washington D.C. is divided into four quadrants. The northwest quadrant, home to many of the city's elites, is generally considered safe and clean. In contrast, parts of the lower-income southeast quadrant, which has a majority Black population, have long been viewed as more dangerous. Approximately 40% of Washington D.C.'s population is Black or African-American.
Trump and his associates have attributed the city's crime to a perceived failure of Democratic leadership and lax law enforcement. Over the weekend, the administration deployed hundreds of personnel from agencies including the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, and the National Guard. The President criticized the city's 3,500-strong police force, arguing it should be more than sufficient to manage crime.
The President has frequently criticized other Democrat-run cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. While these cities have large Black and minority populations and some areas with higher crime rates, Trump and his allies have also claimed that an influx of undocumented immigrants is responsible for a spike in crime, a claim that contradicts government statistics showing immigrants commit less crime than U.S. citizens.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for Washington, spoke at the press conference, criticizing the judicial system for being too lenient on juvenile offenders. Trump supported her stance, arguing that "these people are never going to be reformed" and advocating for legal changes to more easily prosecute teenage defendants.
The federal takeover has been met with significant concern from local residents. A majority of D.C. residents (77%) are "extremely" or "very" worried about the federal control. When asked about the administration's actions in general, 72% reported feeling "angry," and 64% said they felt "scared."