MWE Correspondent
Tensions are rising in the U.S. capital after President Donald Trump announced a sweeping plan to address crime and homelessness, including taking federal control of the city’s police force and deploying hundreds of National Guard troops.
Speaking from the White House, Trump described Washington as plagued by “graffiti, potholes, crime, and disorder,” comparing it to war-torn Baghdad. He vowed to make the city “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before” and insisted that homeless individuals must “move out” of the capital. The president said they would be relocated “far from the city” but offered few details on housing or support.
The move has sparked fierce backlash from local leaders. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, accused the president of exaggerating crime rates for political gain. She noted that violent crime in Washington has dropped by more than 25% compared with last year, building on what she described as a “historic” decline in serious offenses.
“We are not experiencing a crime spike,” Bowser told reporters, rejecting comparisons to foreign conflict zones as “inaccurate and inflammatory.”
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Trump’s action relies on powers under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the federal government to take control of local policing during emergencies. Critics argue the law is being stretched beyond its intended limits and warn that deploying armed forces in civilian areas could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement.
The federal plan includes nightly patrols by multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, and Park Police. Trump has framed this as a necessary “surge” to restore order, while opponents say it risks escalating tensions without addressing the root causes of crime or homelessness.
Advocates for the homeless warn that forcibly removing people without providing adequate shelter or mental health services could worsen the crisis. “This is displacement, not a solution,” said one nonprofit leader, who urged the administration to focus on housing affordability and community programs rather than mass eviction.
