Trump Vows Homeless Eviction, Prepares National Guard Washington DC

President Donald Trump has vowed to evict homeless people from Washington, D.C., ordering they be moved "far from the capital," while promising to jail criminals in the city, despite local crime statistics showing a significant decline. The White House has not clarified the legal authority for such evictions, as the president's control in D.C. is limited to federal land and buildings, with local streets and governance managed by the elected city government and Congress. Trump is reportedly preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the city, a power he uniquely holds in D.C., as part of a crackdown following a violent attack on a Trump administration staffer and ongoing concerns about illegal activities. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser disputes claims of rising crime, citing a 26% drop in violent crime in 2025 and emphasizing that the city is not experiencing a crime spike. The homeless population in the city numbers around 3,782 single individuals, most of whom are in shelters or transitional housing, with about 800 living unsheltered on the streets. Trump's planned press conference aims to detail his efforts to reduce crime and address homelessness, but the approach has raised questions about feasibility and respect for local governance.