Trump Expands Military, Federal Forces in Washington Amid Crime Claims

President Trump has taken significant steps to increase federal control over law enforcement in Washington, D.C., deploying 800 National Guard troops and effectively federalizing the city’s police force under Attorney General Pam Bondi's leadership. Trump declared a national emergency in D.C., citing an alleged crime epidemic despite crime rates in the city being at historic lows, and threatened to extend similar measures to other Democratic-run cities such as New York, Baltimore, and Oakland. His administration's increased federal law enforcement presence in D.C. is part of a broader strategy to assert federal authority over cities governed by Democrats, a move that has been met with opposition from local officials like Mayor Muriel Bowser. Alongside these domestic actions, Trump has also escalated military and law enforcement measures against drug cartels, designating major cartel groups as terrorist organizations and increasing bounties on leaders like Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Critics argue these actions are politically motivated distractions amid Trump's legal challenges and declining poll numbers, while supporters claim they are necessary to protect national sovereignty and public safety. The consolidation of political and bureaucratic power in D.C. and the potential expansion of military involvement in other cities highlight an aggressive law-and-order agenda during Trump's current presidency.