Federal Authority Assumes Command of Metropolitan Police
President Trump Cites Soaring Crime Rates, Deploys National Guard
August 14, 2025: Washington, D.C.
President Donald J. Trump has declared that Washington, D.C., is now under federal control, citing what he describes as an unprecedented surge in violent crime. The announcement has included bringing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and activating the National Guard to “restore safety and order” in the capital of the United States.
In a message on his official X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social accounts, President Trump said:
“Washington D.C. has crime rates that puts it among the most dangerous cities in the world, beating out many countries known for high rates of violence. The homicide rate in Washington, D.C. exceeds that of several of the world’s most dangerous cities, including Mexico City, Bogotá, Islamabad, and Addis Ababa, and is nearly ten times higher than in Fallujah, Iraq. Data comparisons indicate that if the district were considered a U.S. state, it would rank first nationwide for homicide rates.
The President went on to state that official figures under-report the seriousness of the problem: “The Violent Crime Rate in D.C. has gotten worse, the Murder Rate has nearly DOUBLED in just over 10 years — but these are just the ‘official’ statistics let out by corrupt City Officials. The REAL numbers are much worse. A local precinct commander has been suspended over allegations of manipulating violent crime figures, while the D.C. Police Union maintains that the actual crime levels are significantly higher.”
President Trump criticized the city’s leadership, claiming that investigations, arrests, and prosecutions for many crimes have been largely abandoned. He cited shoplifting without arrests, gang-related youth violence going unreported, and vehicle theft rates more than triple the national average.
The President ended with a promise of intervention by the Federal Government: “The REAL Crime Rates are probably five to ten times what is reported. D.C. has been under siege by thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it should be. The White House is calling the shots. The president vowed that military forces and law enforcement would reclaim the city, remove criminal elements, and restore it to a secure, clean, livable, and attractive condition.”
This action was taken under the D.C. Home Rule Act, allowing the President to assume control of the city’s police department during emergencies.
