Trump threatens to take over DC police, might bring in National Guard
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he was considering federal takeover of local police forces in Washington, DC, and that he could call on the National Guard to help manage crime in the city.
Trump’s remarks went further than his threat on Tuesday to take federal control of the national capital after a member of efficiency staff of the ministry of government efficiency of well-known origin was attacked during the weekend.
A journalist during a journalist during a White House event on Wednesday, if the care of the Metropolitan Police Department is an “option on the table”, Trump said that it was.
“We are considering it. Yes, because the crime is – is ridiculous,” said Trump before referring to the former Doge employee Edward Coristine, without naming him.
“We have a very dangerous capital, you know, we have almost lost a young man, a beautiful and beautiful guy who was knocked out the day before,” said Trump.
Trump then threatened to bring the national guard.
“What a shame, the crime rate, the rate of moists, the murders and everything else, we are not going to leave it, and that includes bringing the national guard, perhaps very quickly too,” he said.
A spokesman for Mayor Muriel Bowser, a democrat, refused to comment on Trump’s remarks.
It would not be the first time that a Trump administration has deployed the National Guard to Washington. After demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, some of which became violent, the national guard troops were brought, despite the opposition of Bowser.
Two months ago, Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in a legally contested decision in the midst of demonstrations related to the application of immigration to the administration.
Violent crimes in Washington are down 26% this year, according to preliminary data from the police service.
Trump has long expressed the desire to assume control of the Washington government. Washington has a limited capacity for self-government in which its laws and budget are subject to convention monitoring.
Taking parts of the district would imply a mixture of actions in the congress and unilateral. For example, Trump could unilaterally take control of the police, but the experts told NBC Washington this year that it would require a “justified emergency” and that he would most likely be disputed in court.
A complete federal takeover of the district would require a congress act, in which the Chamber and the Senate should vote to repeal the 1973 law on the rule of the house, which grants residents the right to elect their own municipal government.
Jeanine Pirro, the American lawyer of Washington, said on Wednesday evening in an interview with Fox News which she “completely” supports Trump if he decided to request a federal takeover of the district.
“It is to the president,” said Pirro. “If that’s what we have to do to do it, that’s what he should do. And I support the president.”
