On Monday morning, President Donald Trump held a White House press conference to announce measures the Trump administration is taking to get the nation's capital city under control. The administration will be taking some major steps to make the District of Columbia clean and safe again.
When the president entered the room, though, his first comment was about a ballroom: "I think we need a ballroom." That's an interesting place to open.
Flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary and Defense Pete Hegseth, the president described several steps that will be taken to address the mess that is our capital city.
The president stated, "This is Liberation Day in D.C." Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing D.C.'s law enforcement under direct federal control. Two executive orders have been issued to get the effort underway.
The first, titled "Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia," states in part:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 740 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act (Public Law 93-198), as amended (section 740 of the Home Rule Act), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Crime is out of control in the District of Columbia. Washington, District of Columbia, is our Nation's capital and home to the central institutions of American governance. Yet rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government, and forces the diversion of critical public resources toward emergency response and security measures. The city government's failure to maintain public order and safety has had a dire impact on the Federal Government's ability to operate efficiently to address the Nation's broader interests without fear of our workers being subjected to rampant violence.
The second, a presidential memorandum to the Department of Defense, titled "Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia," states in part:
Pursuant to my authority under the Constitution and laws of the United States and the District of Columbia, I direct the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the District of Columbia National Guard and order members to active service, in such numbers as he deems necessary, to address the epidemic of crime in our Nation's capital. The mobilization and duration of duty shall remain in effect until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia. Further, I direct the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with State Governors and authorize the orders of any additional members of the National Guard to active service, as he deems necessary and appropriate, to augment this mission.
The president noted that the murder rate in the District of Columbia is higher than in Bogata, Baghdad, and Mexico City. The president also noted that the capital city has been "overtaken by gangs, criminals, and homeless people." He also cited the border, noting that illegal border crossings have been all but eliminated; nobody thought anything like that was possible. He also noted that D.C. will not be the last major city to see this effort.
The President noted several recent, high-profile crimes, including the severe beating of a DOGE member who tried to stop a carjacking:
Read More: Watch: Jeanine Pirro Goes Nuclear Over Assault on DOGE Staffer, Promises Escalation Against D.C.
President Trump, continuing his remarks, also cited the failures of the District's municipal government, naming the city's "no cash bail" law as a major issue. He named the same issue as applying to other American cities, including New York and Chicago, which issues he also blamed on bad leadership, describing the governor of Illinois and the mayors of Chicago and Los Angeles as "incompetent." He also noted the need for some legislative fixes to repeal some of these policies, but that the administration will be taking action where it can, beginning with the District of Columbia. He noted, "If you're competent, it's easy. If you're incompetent, it's impossible."
The president stated that 500 federal agents have already surged into the District, from the FBI, ATF, and Homeland Security, and have made "dozens of arrests." He described the current state of the capital as "dirty (and) disgusting," but stated that it won't stay that way.
Several key officials who will be involved in the effort also spoke:
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who is in charge of the U.S. Park Police, described the Park Police as the oldest federal police force in the nation, tasked with protecting monuments, the National Mall, and other federal properties that see tens of millions of visitors a year. Mr. Burgum also notes that traffic circles are federal park property, but some have been taken over by homeless encampments; those homeless camps will be cleaned up. Over 70 camps have already been removed. The Park Police will also be enforcing laws against graffiti.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: Pursuant to the president's order, DoD will mobilize the D.C. National Guard and place it under the direct control of the Department of Defense. Other National Guard, other specialized units may also be brought in. Secretary Hegseth notes that our military is already operating in a defense zone on the border - working with ICE, CA National Guard, to stop illegal immigration - and they will do the same with D.C. authorities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi: "Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today." AG Bondi notes, again, that families come every summer to see D.C., and that everyone should come and feel safe. AG Bondi cites career law enforcement officers, who are ready to get the effort underway.
FBI Director Kash Patel: Director Patel notes that, in the last six months, over 4,000 child victims have been identified, found. The FBI and other authorities have intercepted 1,500 kg of fentanyl, enough to kill 115 million Americans. The FBI has arrested 19,000 people, double of this time last year. 270 of those arrested were traffickers of children. Murder rates are plummeting. "We will make D.C. safe again."
US Attorney Janine Pirro: "We all want a safe city." She cited too much violent crime being committed by "young punks," also stating, "they know we can't touch them because the laws are weak." She stated that emboldened criminals won't be getting away anymore. "It changes today."
President Trump then stated, "It's a beautiful thing, to do it right." The president notes, as he has in the past, that the District of Columbia, the capital of the greatest nation on the planet, should be clean, safe, and beautiful, but that at present, it is none of those. He's taking it on, noting that "I like fixing things up."
There were a couple of interesting questions posed by a jam-packed press room:
Q: Is the city a direct reflection of who runs the government?
President Trump: Yes. Foreign leaders, visitors see the state of the District now. The president noted that other countries thought our country was dead a year ago, and that everything should be "perfect" when foreign visitors come to town. The capital city is a reflection of the country; if the capital is dirty, the whole country is dirty.
Q: Do you expect more cities to follow D.C.'s path?
President Trump: "We're going to see what happens." The president predicted his actions will see tremendous success in D.C. and that other cities will be watching.
Residents of the District of Columbia are waking up to a new deal this morning; the full force of the federal government is being employed to set D.C. to rights, and if all this works, our capital may be restored to what it should be: Safe, clean, and beautiful, a city that befits the United States of America.
You can view the entire presser here.
Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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