After U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the capital’s police force in Washington would be placed under federal control, fierce resistance began to form. This move is “disturbing and unprecedented,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Residents of the city expressed their discontent with signs and by banging pots and pans. Trump, meanwhile, already has his sights set on the next U.S. city. Bowser contradicted Trump’s description of Washington as being “overrun by violent gang members and bloodthirsty criminals, roaming hordes of violent youth, drug-addicted maniacs, and homeless people.”
She pointed out a downward trend in the number of criminal incidents since an uptick in 2023. The city’s chief “not completely surprised” “While today’s action is disturbing and unprecedented, given the rhetoric of the past, I cannot say we are completely surprised,” Bowser said. “I can tell the people of Washington, D.C., that we will continue to run our government in a way that makes them proud.” She now wants to avoid a “total disaster.”
The city’s residents also showed their displeasure at the measure. In a popular nightlife stretch in the city center, several dozen protesters temporarily blocked traffic. However, at first there were no major demonstrations, and by nightfall, the situation remained largely calm. Protester: “It’s safe here” “This is what fascism looks like,” shouted one participant at the downtown demonstration through a megaphone. Another told the German Press Agency she wanted to show solidarity with her city:
Washington has no crime problem. “I’m on the streets day and night. It’s very safe here,” explained Robyn Galbraith. Trump is merely looking for an excuse to distract attention from low poll numbers and domestic political troubles, said the retired teacher. Her children, she added, are threatened with a life under “an authoritarian regime.” Trump also threatens action in Chicago Trump, on the other hand, already has his eyes on the next city where he could imagine such a maneuver.
“If necessary, we will do the same in Chicago, which is a disaster. We have a mayor there who is completely incompetent,” he said at a press conference. An alleged high crime rate as a pretext On Monday, Trump ordered by decree that Washington’s capital district police be placed under the command of Attorney General Pam Bondi for the time being, citing a supposed escalation in crime. In addition, 800 National Guard soldiers would initially be deployed. If necessary, Trump intends to mobilize even more forces to restore public safety in the capital.
The case is reminiscent of the highly controversial deployment of soldiers on the streets of Los Angeles in June, but is legally different. Media call it a first in U.S. history Trump claims the local government of the U.S. capital has lost control of security. He bases his unusual decree on a law called the “Self-Government Act,” which places Washington’s police under federal command in a state of emergency, and says things like: “We will take back our capital.” According to U.S. media, it is the first time a president has placed Washington’s police under federal control. According to U.S. broadcaster CNN, there appeared to have been little coordination with Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser before Trump’s announcement.
Therefore, it is also unclear exactly how cooperation between local and federal authorities should function. Assignment for up to 30 days without congressional approval The U.S. president can place Washington’s local police under federal control for up to 48 hours before having to inform Congress. Without the approval of both chambers—the Senate and the House of Representatives—it can remain this way for a maximum of 30 days. After that, a vote is required. However,
Congress is currently on its summer recess, making it likely that a special regulation will take effect, giving Trump a bit more time. Police statistics contradict Trump’s account The decree also cites as an argument that the Federal District of Washington has “one of the highest rates of robbery and murder among major cities in the country.” However, a look at local police crime statistics shows a decrease in reported crimes.
According to the report, the number of violent crimes dropped by over a quarter in early August this year compared to the same period last year. The total number of all crimes fell by seven percent. Reported crime also declined between 2023 and 2024. According to the capital district’s prosecutor’s office, 2024 was the year with the fewest violent crimes in 30 years.
