KABUL: President Donald Trump has announced that the Washington D.C. police will be placed under federal control, with 800 National Guard troops deployed to ensure the security of the capital. The decision comes despite official statistics showing that violent crime in Washington has reached its lowest level in three decades in 2024. During a press conference on Monday, at the White House, Trump stated, in the presence of officials including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Attorney General Pam Bondi, that the deployment of the National Guard aims to “restore law and order.” He claimed that the capital has “fallen into the hands of violent gangs” and indicated that more troops would be sent if necessary. The Defense Secretary mentioned that the National Guard units are expected to arrive in the capital next week. According to the Associated Press, this move is part of Trump’s tough stance on domestic security. Reuters noted that this decision represents the latest instance of the President exercising federal authority over issues typically managed by local governments. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser rejected Trump’s statements, asserting that the city is “not facing a crime wave,” and that violent crime has reached its lowest level in over 30 years. Police statistics indicate that such crimes have decreased by 26% in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall decline in crime rates, gun violence remains a significant challenge for the capital.
