President Donald Trump has signaled he is prepared to deploy National Guard troops — and even active-duty military — into Washington, D.C.

Trump Seizes Control of D.C. Police, Threatens Military Deployment

President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is taking over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, deploying National Guard troops and warning that active-duty military could follow “if needed.” The move, he said, could be expanded to other U.S. cities.

At a press conference, Trump claimed the action was necessary to “rescue” the capital from “crime, bloodshed, and bedlam.” He cited an alleged attempted carjacking of a federal employee as proof of chaos — despite official Justice Department data showing violent crime in D.C. hit a 30-year low in 2024, with homicides down 32%, robberies down 40%, and armed carjackings cut in half compared to the previous year.

Trump invoked the Home Rule Act, allowing him to control the D.C. police for up to 48 hours before seeking an extension of up to 30 days. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said he would introduce a resolution to end federal control once the initial period expired.

The president also vowed to clear homeless encampments, stating on Truth Social, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY… The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”

Standing alongside U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, Trump called for children as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults. Pirro labeled minors who commit crimes “young punks.” Advocacy groups blasted the proposal as harmful, citing research that youth incarceration fails to improve public safety and ignores key developmental differences between minors and adults.

Critics also noted that Trump’s list of “very bad” cities — Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland — are all run by Black mayors, with most designated as sanctuary cities.

Trump signaled that his crackdown could expand nationwide. “We’re starting very strongly with D.C., and we’re going to clean it up real quick,” he said.