He Threatened to ‘Run D.C.’ Himself — Now He’s Sending Troops and Taking Over the Police

President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Washington, D.C., by openly considering a federal takeover of the city’s police department and deploying the National Guard—stirring a constitutional firestorm in the nation’s capital.

The escalation comes in response to the violent assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, widely publicized as the catalyst for Trump’s emergency posture. Despite crime in D.C. being at a 30-year low, Trump painted a different picture—calling the city “totally out of control.”

A Turn Toward Federal Power

• Trump said he was “considering” federal intervention, including potentially mobilizing the National Guard and assuming control over Metropolitan Police operations.
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• Federal law enforcement presence in the city is already increasing, with agencies like the FBI, US Marshals, National Guard, and others set to patrol key areas.
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• He also suggested repealing D.C.’s Home Rule Act—legislation that grants the district limited self-governance—though experts say full federalization would require a congressional vote.
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Legal and Political Reality

• The Home Rule Act allows the President to temporarily assume control of D.C. police during emergencies, but a sweeping federalization would need both Houses of Congress to repeal existing laws.
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• Legal scholars warn this would be a dangerous precedent, undermining local democracy and infringing on the constitutional balance of power.
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Crime Stats vs. Rhetoric

• D.C. crime stats tell one story: violent crime is down 26%, and homicides are down from 2024.
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• Trump has dismissed these facts, painting a dire picture, citing grooming of youth gangs and city decay as justification for his rhetoric.
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Local Reaction

• Mayor Bowser’s office remained mum on coordination with federal authorities. The D.C. Police—and many residents—warned that federal intervention could endanger local accountability.
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• Historical precedent exists: in the 1990s, D.C. underwent a federal spending takeover controlled by a board appointed by Congress—something Trump alluded to reviving.WUSA9