Donald Trump’s most recent “clean up” plan There has been intense criticism and a resurgence of calls for impeachment in Washington, D.C. The president declared a broad crackdown on crime in the capital on Monday, promising that no “Mr Nice Guy” strategy would be used.
These actions included directing homeless people to “move out IMMEDIATELY” and sending the National Guard to take over the city’s Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days on behalf of the federal government.
It was the world’s most beautiful capital before the tents, dirt, misery, and crime. That’s going to happen again shortly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Despite official data showing violent crime at a 30-year low, Trump characterized D.C. as a “sanctuary for illegal alien criminals” beset by “lawlessness,” claiming the city has higher homicide rates than Bogotá and Mexico City. According to Politico, Obama justified the government participation by citing Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which presently has 800 National Guard personnel on the streets.
Trump’s statement that officers can “do whatever the hell they want” in response to animosity was arguably the most contentious. He informed reporters, “That’s the only language they understand.” “We hit after you spit, and they can hit really hard.”
“Uncomfortable and unheard of” Mayor of D.C. Muriel Bowser described the action as “unsettling and unprecedented,” but added that it was “not totally surprising” considering Trump’s prior statements. Critics referred to the action as authoritarian online. A Reddit user remarked, “The Trump police state is upon us.” Others warned that the comments normalize the notion that law enforcement requires “special permission to break skulls” and referred to them as “evil” and “a road map” for increased police violence.
The LA crackdown raises legal concerns. The D.C. takeover coincides with Trump’s court battle over his use of the National Guard—an unprecedented federal deployment without a governor’s approval—during immigration protests in June in Los Angeles.
California officials claim it was “a clear violation of the most fundamental principles of our Nation’s founding,” arguing that it went against the core idea that states should be in charge of their own National Guard forces. According to the administration, the action was permitted by the law as it stands. “This is liberation day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” is Trump’s unambiguous message.