President Donald Trump said a Monday press conference would “stop violent crime” in Washington, D.C., hinting at a decision to intervene in the city’s affairs.
The Trump administration has been in uproar after a DOGE staffer was jumped by several juveniles last week. After pictures of the bloodied staffer were broadcast, Trump ramped up his threats to strip the capital of home rule, a possibility he floated during his campaign. In a Saturday Truth Social post, the president hinted at such a move, which would be announced at a Monday press conference.
“On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he posted.
The press conference could include an announcement that the administration is taking over the Metropolitan Police, which Trump said he was “considering” earlier this week.
“Yeah, because the crime is ridiculous. I could show you a chart comparing D.C. to other locations, and you’re not going to want to see what it looks like,” he said.
“Now we want to have a great, safe capital, and we’re going to have it, and that includes cleanliness and includes other things. We have a capital that’s very unsafe,” Trump added.
Despite Trump’s growing concerns, his Federal Emergency Management Agency announced in a grant notice posted last week that it would reduce the capital’s urban security fund by 44% from last year.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, said it has “observed a shift from large-scale, coordinated attacks like 9/11 to simpler, small-scale assaults, heightening the vulnerability of soft targets and crowded spaces in urban areas.”
Trump has repeatedly decried the state of the capital, pledging to take strong action during his campaign. Earlier this week, he bemoaned the city’s graffiti, crumbling infrastructure, and “the papers all over the place.”
TRUMP — AND THE GOP — CAN DO A LOT TO FIGHT CRIME IN DC
“We’re going to beautify the city. We’re going to make it beautiful. And what a shame. The rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings, and everything else, we’re not going to let it. And that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly too,” Trump said.
While the federal government already has some control over Washington, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Council of the District of Columbia control most local matters. This state of affairs has been in place for decades, but saw its first threat under Trump.