President Trump on Monday announced a historic law enforcement escalation in Washington, D.C., deploying the National Guard to patrol the streets and placing the city’s police department under federal control.
“We’re going to clean it up real quick,” Trump told reporters at the White House, citing the capital’s high crime rate and the Aug. 3 attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer who tried to stop an attempted carjacking by 10 teens.
“You spit, and we hit,” Trump said, describing how police will respond under the newly declared “public safety emergency.”
“They can hit real hard,” the president added of police.
Trump said that, if necessary, active-duty military could join the National Guard and local police on D.C. streets.
The president has direct control over the city’s National Guard — unlike units in other states, which are under governors’ authority.
Under the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Trump can also use the Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes for up to 30 days.
“Washington, DC, should be one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world, and we’re going to make it that,” Trump said of his plans to beautify the District.
“It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness, and we get rid of the slums too,” Trump went on.
“We have slums here. We get rid of them. I know it’s not politically correct. You’ll say, oh, so terrible. No. We get rid of the slums where they live, caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets at all times of the day.”
“You want to live in places like that? I don’t think so, I don’t think so,” Trump said.
Trump also signed several executive orders to support his crackdown efforts.
President Donald J. Trump has officially declared a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia.
Here is the text of the Executive Order:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 740 of the…
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
Watch the clips below:
.@POTUS on Making D.C. Safe Again: "We are going to be removing homeless encampments from all over our parks… We're getting rid of the people from underpasses and public spaces… We'll help them as much as you can help." pic.twitter.com/Gu7O1ySWFz
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
.@AGPamBondi: "Let me be crystal clear: crime in D.C. is ending and ending TODAY. We are going to use every power we have to fight criminals here. Mr. President, thank you for caring about our Capital." pic.twitter.com/SpL6TzASr5
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
.@SecDef: "This morning, we've mobilized the D.C. National Guard… You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week." pic.twitter.com/qFbPglfzAw
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
.@SecretaryBurgum: "On behalf of the U.S. Park Police… they are so pleased, the rank-and-file, that @POTUS is now allowing them to enforce the law." pic.twitter.com/eSxV18MihG
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
.@POTUS: "They'll immediately begin massive enforcement operations targeting known gangs, drug dealers and criminal networks to get them the hell off the street." https://t.co/94Z8ptnzaP pic.twitter.com/qqIBU7yKm8
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025
