Chicago – August 11, 2025
President Donald Trump announced that National Guard soldiers would be deployed on the streets of Washington, D.C., and that he would take control of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department. He said these actions were necessary to address what he described as a crime and homelessness crisis in the capital.
“This is liberation day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump said during a press conference at the White House. He added that a federal team would now lead the Metropolitan Police, calling them “very good people but they’re tough.”
This decision was made despite local leaders’ objections. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice shows that violent crime in Washington reached a 30-year low last year. The DOJ recently reported that crime rates in the city had dropped significantly across several categories.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concerns about Trump’s motives, suggesting that the increased federal law enforcement presence wasn’t necessary, given the low crime rates. “If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know he can do that here, but it won’t be because there’s a spike in crime,” Bowser said.
Trump’s policies have often sparked controversy, with some critics accusing him of ignoring facts and expert opinions.
