Trump Plans Federal Takeover of Washington DC Police Amid Crime Debate

President Donald Trump has aggressively pushed for a federal takeover of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., citing rising crime and homelessness, and has threatened similar interventions in other major cities. Trump characterized D.C. as overrun by violent criminals and slums, proposing to place the city’s Metropolitan Police under federal control and deploy National Guard troops, while vowing to relocate homeless individuals away from the capital. However, local leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and District Attorney Brian Schwalb, have strongly rejected Trump's claims, pointing to recent declines in violent crime and labeling the federal intervention as unprecedented and unnecessary. The move has sparked resistance from D.C. residents and activists, who view it as a power grab and federal overreach, especially given the city’s significant Black population and limited support for Trump locally. Some conservatives see Trump's focus on urban policy as a potential shift in Republican engagement with cities traditionally governed by Democrats, although there remains ambivalence within the right about prioritizing urban issues. Meanwhile, specific crime issues like a surge in auto theft have fueled frustrations that may make some residents more open to federal involvement despite widespread opposition.