President Donald Trump reaffirmed his decision to place Washington, D.C., under federal control, repeating his claim on Truth Social that “The White House is in charge.” The post, published Wednesday night, echoed remarks from his Monday press conference, where he announced the federalization of the D.C. police.
Trump argued that “Washington, D.C., has one of the Highest Rates of Crime in the World, more than many of the most violent countries.” He claimed the city’s homicide rate exceeded that of Mexico City, Bogota, Islamabad, and Addis Ababa, and was “almost ten times higher than Fallujah, Iraq.”
“If D.C. were a State,” Trump added, “it would have the highest Homicide Rate of any State in America.” He cited “gang youth violence” and described a climate of fear where residents avoided calling the police “lest they be targeted.” His post concluded with a promise: “D.C. has been under siege from thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it belongs.
The Military and our Great Police will liberate this City, scrape away the filth, and make it safe, clean, habitable and beautiful once more!” Fact-checks quickly followed. PolitiFact noted Trump relied on 2023 data, when D.C.’s homicide rate was higher, but said the rate had since dropped sharply. In 2024, it was 27.3 per 100,000 people, according to Justice Department data released in January. Violent crime was down 35 percent from the previous year, reaching its lowest level in over three decades.
The New York Times reported that 49 cities worldwide have higher homicide rates than D.C., including three other capitals and six U.S. cities such as St. Louis, New Orleans, and Detroit. PolitiFact concluded that Trump “stretched an outdated homicide rate into an inaccurate blanket statement.”
When asked about his move to federalize the police and deploy the National Guard, Trump said, “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will. But I think the Republicans in Congress will approve this pretty much unanimously.” Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, presidential control of the police lasts 30 days unless extended by Congress. Trump said he would seek “long-term extensions” and hinted at a forthcoming crime bill targeting D.C.
According to The Guardian, Tuesday night’s deployment resulted in 43 arrests, fewer than the 76 the day before. Federal officials warned that more National Guard troops and round-the-clock patrols were expected in the coming days.