Trump deploys National Guard to Washington, D.C. in public safety emergency crackdown

Hundreds of National Guard troops are expected to deploy on the streets of Washington, D.C., starting today.

(NBC)-Following an unprecedented order from President Trump, hundreds of National Guard troops are expected to deploy on the streets of Washington, D.C., starting today, according to a White House official. The move aims to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.

President Trump announced the declaration of a public safety emergency in D.C., stating, “We’re declaring a public safety emergency in the District of Columbia.” He has taken federal control over the D.C. Police Department for up to 30 days without congressional approval, citing rising violent crimes, including a recent attack on a former DOGE employee during an attempted carjacking.

Describing the action as “historic,” Trump said it was intended “to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor.”

However, this move comes despite reports from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January showing violent crime in D.C. at a 30-year low, with Metro Police noting a 26 percent drop since last year. The head of the police union, however, disputed these statistics, arguing they have been manipulated and calling any claim of a recent crime drop “preposterous.”

Protesters have criticized the president’s decision, pointing to his recent deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles this summer to quell immigration protests, as well as comments suggesting federal intervention could extend to other cities like New York and Chicago.

Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC, stated, “Trump does not care about DC safety. He cares about control.”

Meanwhile, the D.C. Attorney General said he is exploring legal options in response to the order. Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the president’s actions “unsettling and unprecedented,” while pledging to work with the federal government to ensure the city’s safety.