Trump Assumes Control of Washington DC Police, Faces Broad Condemnation

President Donald Trump has taken control of Washington D.C.'s police force and deployed 800 National Guard troops to the capital, citing a need to address what he described as a 'tragic emergency' of rising crime and homelessness. This move bypasses the city's elected officials and has been widely condemned by civil rights leaders, who describe it as an unprecedented federal takeover or 'coup' that undermines the city's right to self-governance. Critics, including the NAACP president and constitutional law experts, argue that Trump's actions are rooted in hostility toward the city's large Black population and are based on misleading claims about crime levels. Trump has warned that other Democratic-led cities like Chicago and Los Angeles could face similar interventions. The White House defended the decision as a necessary crackdown on crime, framing opposition as politically motivated. Protests against the takeover have occurred outside the White House, while D.C. officials have called the actions illegal.