At a White House press conference on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., aiming to restore law and order across the city's streets.
He declared it "Liberation Day in D.C.," asserting, "we're going to take our capital back." To bolster federal authority, the president also invoked the Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control for the first time since the law's enactment in the 1970s.
According to the administration, 500 federal agents were already in the district last week, including personnel from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. Trump hinted that similar measures could extend to New York and Chicago.
The Home Rule Act of the mid-1970s granted residents the right to elect a mayor and city council, but Congress has retained power over the district's budget and key policies. Critics say this move challenges local autonomy, while supporters argue it addresses rising crime and homelessness.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, in an MSNBC interview on Sunday, defended the capital's record, noting violent crime fell to a 30-year low under her leadership. Yet a Gallup poll in October found 64% of Americans believe crime surged this year, despite FBI data showing nationwide violent crime at half-century lows.
Trump emphasized his focus on homeless encampments, referencing a recent order to ease the arrest of individuals living on the streets. He promised "places to stay, far from the capital," and vowed swift action, warning criminals would be jailed "very fast."
As the National Guard moves in and federal oversight tightens, D.C. residents and officials face a new chapter in the ongoing debate over local governance, public safety and the balance of power in the nation's capital.
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Trump announces deployment of National Guard in Washington, D.C.
cgtn.com
