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Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy National Guard troops to Washington DC to improve safety on the city’s streets.
During a White House press conference on Monday, the president stated that the city’s police force would come under federal control, citing that the murder rate in DC is “higher than” some of the “worst places on earth.” He said the troops are being sent in to “re-establish law, order, and public safety.”
Trump described this move as a “historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, chaos, and decay.” He declared, “This is liberation day in DC, and we are going to take our capital back.”
The president also announced a “public safety emergency” in the District of Columbia and said the effort is not only about safety but also about the “beautification” of the city. “Washington DC should be one of the safest, cleanest, and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world, and we’re going to make it that,” he added.
Last week, Trump ordered federal law enforcement agencies to boost their presence in Washington for a week, with the option to extend as needed. On Friday night, more than 120 officers and agents from agencies such as the Secret Service, FBI, and US Marshals Service were deployed to assist.
National Guard troops typically serve individual states and are trained to respond to emergencies like natural disasters. Being a reserve force of the US military, many National Guard members serve part-time and have civilian jobs.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries responded to Trump’s announcement on social media, stating, “Violent crime in Washington, DC is at a thirty-year low. Donald Trump has no justification to take over the local police department and zero credibility on law and order. Get lost.”
On Sunday, Trump also called for the immediate removal of homeless people from Washington, though he did not specify where they would be relocated. “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote on social media. “We will provide places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
