Trump Declares Emergency Deploys National Guard Washington D.C. Street Violence

President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency in Washington, D.C., announcing a federal takeover of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard to address rising crime rates. Trump cited nearly 30,000 reported crimes in 2024, including violent offenses, assaults with weapons, robberies, and auto thefts, as justification for these measures. In addition to the federal takeover, Trump announced a crackdown on homelessness in the city, ordering homeless individuals to move from Washington, D.C. These actions underscore his administration's focus on law and order amid concerns over public safety and recent high-profile incidents, including the murder of a congressional intern and the injury of a government staffer intervening in a carjacking. The president’s move to federalize the local police department is an extraordinary step aimed at restoring security and confidence in the capital’s governance. The crackdown has sparked widespread attention as Washington, D.C., grapples with complex social and public safety challenges.