5 months ago
President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington, D.C. will be "liberated" from crime, homelessness, and urban decay, promising a sweeping federal intervention to restore safety and cleanliness in the nation's capital. Trump is expected to announce a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C., during a Monday morning press conference, including possible National Guard deployment and expanded law enforcement patrols.
What to Know
- In a post on Truth Social this morning, Trump wrote: "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!!"
- Trump's briefing is set for 10 a.m. ET at the White House amid a weekend surge of federal agents across D.C.
- Defense officials say up to several hundred National Guard troops may be activated to support city police
- 120 FBI agents will be reassigned from desk duty to overnight street patrols in high-crime areas
- Trump claims crime is "out of control," despite city data showing a double-digit drop in violent offenses
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
10:50 AM EDT
Trump vows to "get rid of the slums" in D.C.
Trump said he planned to "get rid of the slums" in Washington, D.C., as part of a sweeping federal initiative to address crime and homelessness.
"We have slums here. We're getting rid of them. I know it's not politically correct," Trump said during a White House briefing, dismissing anticipated criticism as "so terrible."
10:48 AM EDT
Trump displays crime charts comparing D.C. to global cities
Trump presented a series of charts—sources currently unclear—claiming Washington, D.C. has a higher crime rate than cities such as Baghdad, Panama City, Brasília, and Bogotá.
10:45 AM EDT
Trump decries D.C. crime, vows crackdown on 'roving mobs' and gangs
Trump said D.C. has been "overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals," including "roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people."
"We're not going to let it happen anymore," he added.
10:43 AM EDT
Trump invokes emergency powers to seize control of D.C. police
Trump said that the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., will be placed "under direct federal control," citing emergency provisions in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
"I'm officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act," he said. "You know what that is—Placing the D.C. Metropolitan police department under direct federal control."
10:39 AM EDT
'I think we need a ballroom'
Trump starts the conference by saying that he thinks "we need a ballroom" and says that it is "coming," adding that it will be a "very beautiful ballroom."
He also remarked that the press room was packed.
10:38 AM EDT
Press briefing gets late start
The press briefing is now beginning after a 30-minute delay.
10:32 AM EDT
Judge rejects DOJ bid to unseal Maxwell grand jury transcripts
A federal judge in New York has denied the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the criminal investigation of Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer dismissed the government's argument that the documents would shed new light on Maxwell's or Epstein's crimes, calling the claim "demonstrably false".
The Justice Department filed the motion following a directive from former President Donald Trump, who urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to release any relevant grand jury testimony. However, Engelmayer concluded that the materials contained "next to nothing new" and did not implicate any additional individuals beyond Maxwell and Epstein.
Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, opposed the release, citing her pending appeal and concerns over grand jury secrecy. The judge emphasized that the government failed to present any "special circumstance" warranting the exceptional step of unsealing the records.
10:16 AM EDT
Trump's silence on Jan. 6 may have delayed National Guard response: Report
Two former leaders of the D.C. National Guard testified that President Donald Trump could have accelerated the deployment of troops to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, had he directly contacted Pentagon officials during the riot, per Politico. In closed-door interviews with the House Administration Committee, Brig. Gen. Aaron Dean and senior enlisted leader Michael Brooks said a presidential call to the Secretary of Defense or Army could have cut through confusion and hastened the Guard's arrival.
Instead, Trump made no such calls, according to testimony and records reviewed by the Jan. 6 select committee. The first Guard troops did not reach the Capitol until after 5:30 p.m., hours after the building was breached. Brooks and Dean said they received mixed signals from military leadership and lacked clear authorization to deploy earlier.
Their testimony contradicts claims by former Pentagon officials, including then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who said the Guard was mobilized as quickly as possible. Dean told investigators that a direct order from Trump at 2 p.m. could have significantly sped up the response.
The House panel is now examining whether Trump's inaction contributed to the delay, as part of a broader inquiry into security failures during the Capitol attack.
10:08 AM EDT
Bowser rebukes Trump's crime comments, warns against National Guard use
In a pointed interview with MSNBC, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back against President Trump's repeated assertions that the capital is overwhelmed by violent crime. "It is true we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023, this is 2025," Bowser said, citing a 26% drop in violent crime over the past year.
The mayor expressed concern over Trump's expected announcement to increase federal law enforcement in the city, warning that deploying the National Guard would be inefficient and unnecessary. "I'm concerned about them not being used efficiently, and I just think that's not the most efficient use of our guard," she said.
Bowser also condemned recent remarks by Trump's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who likened D.C. to Baghdad. "Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," she said, defending the city's progress and resilience.
As Trump prepares to address crime and "beautification" efforts in a White House press conference, Bowser emphasized that D.C. is not experiencing a crime surge and remains one of the most vibrant and well-run cities in the country.
10:02 AM EDT
News conference to begin shortly
Trump is set to take the podium in the White House to address his vow to "liberate" D.C. today.
The conference was set to begin at 10 a.m.
09:54 AM EDT
White House deputy chief of staff calls D.C. 'nightmare of violence'
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said in a tweet this morning: "Washington DC is a nightmare of violence."
Washington DC is a nightmare of violence.
Our President will rescue our nation's capital from collapse and usher in a bright and brilliant future.
09:42 AM EDT
Homelessness in D.C. declines, but challenges persist
Washington, D.C., has seen a measurable drop in homelessness over the past year, according to new data from The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness. The 2025 Point-in-Time Count by Community Partnership found 5,138 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night, down 19% from 2020, the last count before the COVID-19 emergency.
The report shows 3,275 people staying in emergency shelters, 1,065 in transitional housing, and 798 unsheltered. Family homelessness dropped 18% from 2024, and the number of unaccompanied individuals fell by 5%. Despite a slight uptick in shelter use, transitional housing occupancy declined by 13%, and unsheltered homelessness dropped nearly 11%.
The data also highlights persistent vulnerabilities. Many individuals face barriers such as poor health, limited income, and histories of domestic violence or institutionalization. Subpopulations—including veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and transitional-age youth—require tailored support to navigate the homeless services system.
While the overall trend is encouraging, advocates caution that sustained investment in housing, employment, and mental health services is essential to prevent reversals.
09:33 AM EDT
Crime rate in Washington D.C.: Trump escalates rhetoric on D.C. crime despite falling rates
President Donald Trump is intensifying his push to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., threatening a federal takeover and calling for stricter penalties on juvenile offenders, even as local data shows violent crime is on the decline.
In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump described the capital as "one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World," announcing a Monday news conference to unveil his plan to "stop violent crime in Washington, D.C." He has already ordered the deployment of 450 federal law enforcement officers and proposed charging teens as young as 14 as adults.
The catalyst for Trump's renewed focus was the assault of Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old federal staffer, during an attempted carjacking. The image of Coristine, bloodied and bruised, has circulated widely online and fueled Trump's claims of lawlessness.
However, crime statistics tell a different story. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime in D.C. is down 26% compared to last year, with homicides dropping 12% and carjackings down 37%. Juvenile arrests have also declined nearly 20% this year, with fewer than 50 carjacking charges among youth.
Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on Trump's characterization, saying on MSNBC, "We are not experiencing a crime spike," and calling for federal support in expanding judicial resources rather than street patrols.
Trump's proposal to prosecute minors as adults has drawn criticism from legal experts. Eduardo Ferrer of Georgetown Law's Juvenile Justice Initiative cited CDC research showing that youth tried as adults are 34% more likely to be rearrested than those processed through juvenile courts.
Despite the political tension, federal agents—including FBI personnel—have begun patrolling D.C. streets in overnight shifts, a rare move that has raised concerns about the proper use of investigative resources.
As Trump prepares to speak at the White House, the debate over crime, youth justice, and federal authority in the District continues to deepen.
09:25 AM EDT
Trump and Newsom to face off in court over National Guard deployment
A federal trial begins today in San Francisco to determine whether President Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act by deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier this year to suppress immigration-related protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom sued the administration in June, arguing that the president unlawfully federalized the state's National Guard and used military personnel in domestic law enforcement roles.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer will hear arguments over whether the deployment breached the 1878 law, which restricts the use of federal troops in civilian policing. The Trump administration contends the troops were only protecting federal property and assisting immigration agents—not directly enforcing laws.
The case could set a precedent for presidential authority over National Guard forces, especially in politically charged situations. Newsom has called the deployment "political theater" and warned that it undermines state sovereignty. Although most troops have since withdrawn, roughly 300 remain stationed in California.
The trial also comes amid renewed speculation that Trump may deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., where he retains direct control over the force. Mayor Muriel Bowser has voiced concern, saying the Guard is not trained for law enforcement and should not be used for street patrols.
09:16 AM EDT
FBI agents reassigned to D.C. streets in Trump crime crackdown
The Trump administration has authorized the temporary reassignment of 120 FBI agents to overnight patrols in Washington, D.C., as part of a broader federal effort to combat street crime and carjackings. The agents, primarily drawn from the bureau's Washington Field Office, will support local law enforcement during traffic stops and public safety operations, despite limited training in street-level policing.
The move comes amid President Trump's escalating rhetoric about crime in the capital, including threats of a federal takeover and calls to prosecute juvenile offenders as adults. While violent crime in D.C. has dropped 26 percent compared to last year, Trump has insisted the city is in crisis and vowed to "liberate" it from lawlessness.
FBI officials confirmed the agency's participation in the increased federal presence but declined to comment on operational specifics. The reassignments have sparked internal frustration, as agents from counterintelligence and public corruption units are diverted from their core investigative roles.
The deployment is part of Trump's "Safe and Beautiful Task Force," which also targets homelessness and urban blight. A White House press conference is scheduled for Monday morning to outline the full scope of the initiative.
09:03 AM EDT
Washington DC homeless nonprofit responds to Trump's 'various threats'
A nonprofit in Washington, D.C., has responded to President Donald Trump's "various threats" after he pledged to evict homeless people from the nation's capital.
"No one has authority in this country to decide who has a right to live in a jurisdiction and who doesn't," the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, which provides pro bono legal services, wrote in a series of posts on X.
"No one can be banished from a jurisdiction. We will not stand by if the federal government attempts to abuse its power against our community in this way," it continued.
Newsweek has contacted the White House, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for comment via emails sent on Monday outside regular business hours.
Read the full story by Khaleda Rahman on Newsweek.
08:56 AM EDT
Trump says D.C. will be 'made great again' today
President Donald Trump declared Monday that Washington, D.C. will be "liberated" from crime, homelessness, and urban decay, promising a sweeping federal intervention to restore safety and cleanliness in the nation's capital. In a social media post, Trump claimed the city would be transformed, echoing his campaign-style rhetoric: "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR."
The statement follows a weekend deployment of federal agents across D.C. and comes ahead of a scheduled White House press conference. Trump has threatened to take federal control of the city, citing what he calls "totally out of control" crime, despite data showing violent crime has dropped to its lowest levels in over 30 years.
Trump also ordered the immediate removal of homeless encampments, stating that individuals would be relocated "far from the Capital." Local officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, have pushed back, calling the claims exaggerated and the federal response excessive.
The administration is reportedly considering activating National Guard troops and reassigning FBI agents to nighttime patrols. Legal experts note that while Trump can deploy federal forces on federal property, broader control of city governance would require congressional action under the Home Rule Act.
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