US President Donald Trump has taken control of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., and called in 800 National Guard troops, citing what he described as a crisis of “crime, bloodshed, chaos, and misery.” The intervention, which can last for 30 days and requires congressional approval to be extended, was justified by the president under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This move has been met with strong opposition from local officials and has raised concerns about the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement.
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the intervention “disconcerting and unprecedented,” noting that official police data contradicts the president’s narrative, showing that violent crime in the city is at its lowest level in 30 years. The mayor also questioned the legality of using military personnel against American citizens on US soil. Critics suggest the move may be a political maneuver to distract from other issues and an escalation of the Trump administration’s tendency toward militarized domestic actions.
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DC police and National Guard on alert after Trump issues executive order
Trump’s move to take over Washington DC police sparks constitutional debate
