Trump Announces Federal Takeover of D.C. Police, Vows Sweeping Crackdown on Crime

President Donald Trump announced he is federalizing the Washington, D.C., police department and deploying the National Guard in a sweeping effort to combat crime and “beautify” the nation’s capital.

“This is Liberation Day in DC, and we’re going to take our capital back,” the president declared in a Monday press conference, outlining a multi-pronged plan that marks a significant escalation in federal oversight of the city.

Flanked by administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel, Trump detailed his administration’s intentions. The move to federalize the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is being made under Section 740 of the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take control for up to 30 days before requiring congressional approval.

The president stated that law enforcement will “immediately begin massive enforcement operations targeting known gangs, drug dealers and criminal networks, to get them the hell off the street, maybe get them out of the country.” He added that the military could be involved if deemed necessary. “We will bring in the military if it’s needed,” Trump said. “I don’t think we’ll need it.”

As part of the initiative, Trump said his administration will also focus on what he termed the “beautification” of Washington. “We’re also talking about beautification. We’re the most beautiful, potentially, capital in the world,” he said, lamenting that D.C. has become “unsafe,” “dirty,” and “disgusting.”

The president also announced the removal of homeless encampments from city parks and public spaces. “We’re moving the encampments away, trying to take care of people,” Trump said, without specifying where the displaced individuals would be relocated. “They’ll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see.” He also pledged to fix potholes and repave roads.

Evoking a lesson from his father, Trump drew a parallel between a clean establishment and a respected nation. “If our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty, and they’ll respect us,” he said.

During the press conference, the president took aim at the city’s bail laws and judiciary. He blamed the “radical left City Council” for adopting “no cash bail,” which he called a “disaster.”

“Somebody murders somebody, and they’re out on no cash bail before the day is out,” Trump claimed. He vowed to work with Republicans in Congress to alter the law, saying, “We’re going to change the statute.”

The president also signaled he intends to replace local judges. “We’re going to be appointing some judges,” he said. “We have some open spots, and we’re going to take people because the judges are letting killers out.”

The White House’s focus on D.C. follows a government funding bill signed by Trump in March that cut the city’s budget by approximately $1 billion by capping its spending at 2024 levels. While the Senate unanimously passed legislation to restore the funds, the bill has not yet been voted on in the House.

Trump suggested his D.C. plan could serve as a model for other major U.S. cities. “Other cities are hopefully watching this,” he said. “If we need to, we’re gonna do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster. We have a mayor there who’s totally incompetent.”

In remarks on other topics, the president confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was not invited to a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. “He wasn’t a part of it,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be [made] because that’s what I do. I make deals.”

Trump also stated that his administration is reviewing the potential reclassification of marijuana. “We’re looking at it,” he said, calling it a “very complicated subject” and promising a determination “over the next few weeks.”