3:05President Donald Trump addresses the media regarding the deployment of federal law enforcement agents in Washington to enhance the local police presence, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, August 11, 2025.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
During an exceptional news conference on Monday, President Donald Trump disclosed his intention to take control of the Washington, D.C. police department and send National Guard troops to the capital to address what he describes as rampant violent crime, despite statistics indicating a decline.
"We're gathered here for a profoundly serious reason. Very serious, indeed," Trump stated. "Something has spiraled out of control. However, we will regain control swiftly, just as we did at the southern border. I am unveiling a monumental initiative to salvage our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, chaos, and filth, and more. This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we are reclaiming our capital."
He declared that he was instituting a public safety emergency to place the Washington police department under federal oversight and to position the National Guard on the city’s streets.
President Donald Trump with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Attorney General Pam Bondi addresses the media in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Washington, August 11, 2025.Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock
Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi would take charge of the Metropolitan Police Department, while DEA Administrator Terry Cole would serve as the interim federal commissioner of the force.
He conveyed his announcements with Bondi, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, all of whom will be involved in the takeover Trump outlined.
"Let me be unequivocal. Crime in D.C. is coming to an end, and it starts today. We will utilize every resource at our disposal to combat criminals here," Bondi asserted.
Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump during a news conference to discuss crime in Washington, DC, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, August 11, 2025.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Hegseth mentioned that an initial deployment of 800 National Guardsmen would commence. He later informed Fox News' Laura Ingraham that the duration of the Guard members’ deployment is "the president's decision."
The Defense Secretary indicated that the Guard would perform similar roles as those sent to Los Angeles earlier this summer in response to anti-ICE protests. While they won't engage in law enforcement duties, "They're going to be proactive. If you take any action or a shot at them, there will be consequences,” he stated.
Trump asserted that the capital "has been overrun by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving hordes of unruly youth, drugged-out lunatics, and the homeless," adding that police are now "permitted to do whatever they please."
In contrast to the president’s assertions, preliminary year-to-date crime data from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department indicates that overall crime in D.C. has decreased by 7% compared to last year, with violent crime down 26% and property crime reduced by 5%.
He also mentioned that the situation concerning the city’s homeless would be addressed.
"We're going to eliminate homeless encampments from all our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks, which now many people cannot enjoy," he stated. "They have become extremely dirty, with numerous issues. But we’ve already commenced that process. We’re relocating the encampments, striving to assist those individuals. Some of them, we cannot even determine how they ended up there. Some are from various countries, different parts of the
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
