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In an unprecedented move, the US president has taken direct command of Washington, DC’s police and streets — promising a ‘clean-up’ operation unlike anything the nation’s capital has seen in decades.
Trump speaks with reporters from the White House on Monday, August 11, 2025. AP
A President Declares War on Crime in His Own Capital
Washington, DC — the city that houses the White House, the US Congress, and the Supreme Court — is now at the centre of one of the most controversial law enforcement interventions in modern American history.
On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that his administration was taking direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard to patrol the streets of the nation’s capital. The move comes under the legal provisions of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, which gives the president sweeping authority over the city’s security for a limited period.
“We’re going to clean it up real quick,” Trump told reporters, citing what he described as “sky-high crime rates” and a shocking August 3 attack in which a former Department of Government Efficiency employee was assaulted while trying to stop an attempted carjacking by ten teenagers.
The president’s tone was unapologetically forceful: “You spit, and we hit.”
Why This Move is Historic — and Controversial
In most of the United States, state governors control the National Guard and have authority over local police. Washington, DC, however, is a federal district — meaning the president can directly command both the Guard and, in certain situations, the city’s police.
Trump has invoked that rarely used authority to launch what he calls a “public safety emergency” — essentially a 30-day federalisation of the city’s police force.
While critics have labelled the move heavy-handed and politically motivated, Trump insists the operation is necessary to restore safety in the city he calls “one of the most important capitals in the world.”
A Military–Police Partnership in the Streets
The president’s plan involves a layered security strategy:
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National Guard patrols — visible military presence on key streets and high-crime corridors.
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FBI and federal agents — joint operations with local officers, focusing on gangs, organised crime, and violent offenders.
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US Park Police operations — tasked with removing graffiti, dismantling illegal encampments, and cleaning up public spaces.
Trump hinted that if the Guard and police are not enough, active-duty military troops could join the mission — a step that would push constitutional boundaries and spark even more political backlash.
The Trigger: A Capital Under Pressure
The August 3 incident that appears to have sparked this drastic intervention involved a brutal attack in broad daylight. A man — a former federal employee — was reportedly trying to stop a group of teenagers from stealing a vehicle when he was beaten. The case drew national headlines and prompted Trump to post a graphic image of the injured man on his Truth Social account.
“It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness,” Trump said. “Caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets at all times of the day.”
While his language raised eyebrows, many residents admit that street crime in certain parts of DC has become more brazen — with carjackings, assaults, and armed robberies making daily news.
Homeless Encampments and Urban ‘Beautification’
The crackdown isn’t limited to violent crime. Trump has also ordered the removal of all homeless encampments from public spaces, including parks, underpasses, and sidewalks.
The US Park Police, under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, will oversee clean-up operations, graffiti removal, and what Trump described as “slum clearance.”
Critics argue this will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations without offering real solutions for housing and rehabilitation. Trump’s defenders counter that the capital must be “safe, clean, and dignified” if it is to represent the United States to the world.
“Washington, DC, should be one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world,” Trump said. “We get rid of the slums where they live. I know it’s not politically correct… but we do it.”
A Political Back-and-Forth with the Mayor
DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser has tried to counter the president’s narrative, noting that city crime statistics show a decline in certain categories over recent months. She has also implemented youth curfews in high-crime districts, in some cases requiring minors to be off the streets by 7 p.m.
Trump has dismissed Bowser’s numbers as “phony,” promising that Attorney General Pam Bondi will investigate the city’s crime reporting.
This clash is not new — Trump and Bowser have traded political blows before, most notably over public safety and the city’s response to protests.
The 1973 Law That Made This Possible
For readers outside the US, the president’s power in this case comes from the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a law that granted limited self-government to Washington, DC, but kept certain powers — especially relating to security — in federal hands.
Under the Act, the president can:
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Deploy the DC National Guard without a governor’s approval.
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Take control of the Metropolitan Police Department for up to 30 days for federal purposes.
Trump is using both powers at once — a rare combination that makes this crackdown unprecedented in modern times.
What This Means for Washington — and Beyond
The move raises questions about the balance between public safety and civil liberties. Supporters say the federal takeover is long overdue and could set a precedent for tackling crime in other cities with federal jurisdiction, such as US territories.
Critics warn that the action blurs the lines between civilian law enforcement and military intervention, potentially undermining local governance.
International Parallels — Why South Africans Should Pay Attention
For South Africans, the story has echoes of national debates over policing in high-crime areas. The tension between national government intervention and local control is familiar — think of the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in townships during waves of looting or gang crackdowns.
Like DC, many South African metros wrestle with visible homelessness, informal settlements in city centres, and public perceptions of safety. The question is always the same: Can a hardline, short-term intervention produce lasting results without alienating communities?
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What Happens Next
Trump’s federal control of DC policing will last for an initial 30-day period, but the president hinted it could be extended if crime does not drop to “acceptable levels.”
Meanwhile, residents are bracing for a new daily reality — National Guard vehicles rumbling past historic landmarks, joint police–federal patrols stopping suspects, and visible sweeps of homeless camps.
Whether this is remembered as a bold stroke that made Washington safer or a political gamble that deepened divisions remains to be seen.
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