Donald Trump Threatens Total Takeover of Washington DC

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Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, with a focus on infrastructure and technology. He has covered technological and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., such as the rise of Elon Musk and other tech figures within the conservative movement, and the development of high-profile international construction projects. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates. You can get in touch with Theo by emailing t.burman@newsweek.com. Languages: English.

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Shane Croucher is a Breaking News Editor based in London, UK. He has previously overseen the My Turn, Fact Check and News teams, and was a Senior Reporter before that, mostly covering U.S. news and politics. Shane joined Newsweek in February 2018 from IBT UK where he held various editorial roles covering different beats, including general news, politics, economics, business, and property. He is a graduate of the University of Lincoln, England. Languages: English. You can reach Shane by emailing s.croucher@newsweek.com

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President Donald Trump has threatened a “complete and total” federal takeover of Washington, D.C., amid a dispute over the city’s crime figures.

Trump has already deployed federal troops, officers and agents to D.C. as part of a crackdown on crime and homelessness.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment by email outside regular working hours.

Why It Matters

Trump said on August 11 that the city had been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”

Trump’s intervention marks an unprecedented federal involvement in the local governance of the District of Columbia. The deployment of federal troops has sparked a backlash over constitutional limits and home rule rights.

Critics argue that it breaches democratic principles and could set a dangerous precedent, while supporters frame it as a necessary measure for public order.

What To Know

Writing on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said: “Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory.”

He added: “Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!”

On August 12, 800 National Guard troops arrived in the district following an order from Trump.

The deployment, aimed at addressing crime in the city, stands out as one of the most forceful federal actions in local policing in decades, even as crime rates have fallen to their lowest point in 30 years.

Violent crime has plummeted by 26 percent this year compared with the same time last year, according to data from police in Washington, D.C.

What People Are Saying

A White House spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “Dozens of D.C. small businesses, restaurants, and local shops have closed their doors due to the violent crime that has plagued the city. President Trump’s bold leadership will restore our nation’s capital by creating opportunities for businesses to flourish without fear of criminals looting and destroying their property. President Trump is delivering on his promise to make D.C. safer, which will inherently make D.C. more prosperous.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on X on August 12: “Violent crime in D.C. is at its lowest level in 30 years. We had an unacceptable spike in 2023, so we changed our laws and strategies. Now, crime levels are not only down from 2023, but from before the pandemic. Our tactics are working, and we aren’t taking our foot off the gas.”

What Happens Next

Legal challenges to the federal takeover are expected to continue as the city attempts to wrestle control back from the president.

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