Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Aug 22: US President Donald Trump on Thursday visited police personnel and National Guard troops deployed across the US capital as part of what he described as a crackdown on crime.

Addressing law enforcement officers outside a US Park Police facility in the Anacostia neighborhood, Trump declared, “We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while. We want to make this absolutely perfect.”

The 79-year-old Republican leader, flanked by officers from multiple agencies along with National Guard troops, distributed pizzas and hamburgers during the brief interaction. “Everybody feels safe,” he remarked, adding that he planned to “fix up” the capital, even joking about his expertise in grass from owning golf courses.

The deployment has seen 800 DC National Guard personnel mobilized, with additional reinforcements of around 1,200 troops sent by Republican-led states including Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. They have been stationed at high-visibility locations such as the National Mall, Nationals Park stadium, and major monuments.

Trump’s visit came a day after Vice President JD Vance was heckled with chants of “Free DC” during his own meeting with troops. Vance dismissed the protesters as “a bunch of crazy people.”

While Republican leaders have accused Washington DC of being crime-ridden and mismanaged, official data indicates violent crime in the city fell significantly between 2023 and 2024 after a post-pandemic spike. Residents remain divided—some welcoming the heightened security, others criticizing the show of force as unnecessary and ineffective.

The deployment has not been without controversy. Viral incidents include the arrest of a man who threw a sandwich at an officer, later dubbed “sandwich guy” by supporters. Banksy-style posters honoring him have since appeared across the city.

The National Guard stated that its personnel are providing “critical support such as crowd management, presence patrols and perimeter control.” Meanwhile, Trump has also attempted to assert greater control over the city’s police force, even trying to sideline its leadership at one stage.

The troop presence in Washington follows Trump’s earlier deployment of National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where unrest had erupted in the wake of immigration enforcement raids.