PRESIDENT Donald Trump is preparing to deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, as part of a sweeping crackdown on crime and homelessness, according to reports.
The president will hold a press conference at 10:00 am and is expected to reveal measures aimed at tightening federal control over the capital.
It follows a surge in federal law enforcement patrols across the city in recent days, a move that has already sparked pushback from DC. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Trump has vowed to make the district “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before,” comparing the effort to his aggressive border security approach.
A US official told NewsNation overnight that preparations were underway for the possible arrival of hundreds of National Guard troops.
A spokesperson for the DC National Guard stressed that no official orders had been given.
“We remain committed to providing trained and ready forces capable of providing support when called upon,” the spokesperson said.
On Sunday, Trump blasted the capital’s current state on social media, claiming that “before the tents, squalor, filth, and Crime, it was the most beautiful Capital in the World.”
Federal agencies have already ramped up their presence, with 450 officers patrolling tourist areas by Saturday night.
Those patrols led to multiple arrests, including suspects accused of carrying firearms without a license.
DC police data shows violent crime has actually dropped 26% compared to the same period last year.
Bowser argued the drop is due to community policing, cooperation with prosecutors, and targeted efforts since a spike in 2023.
“This is not 2023, this is 2025,” Bowser said on MSNBC, calling Trump’s expanded enforcement “not the most efficient use of our Guard.”
She suggested the focus should instead be on hiring prosecutors and judges and improving the city jail.
Bowser acknowledged that the president holds the power to deploy the Guard, but said none of the legal conditions for federal control currently exist.
Her comments come after Trump threatened to “federalize” the city following an attack on former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Edward Coristine, nicknamed “Big Balls,” during an attempted carjacking.
Two 15-year-olds were arrested in that case, with police searching for more suspects.
“We’re going to have to federalize DC and run it the way it’s supposed to be run,” Trump said on Truth Social last week.
He told reporters he would not rule out quickly bringing in the National Guard.
Trump has also floated the idea of stripping DC of its home rule, which has been in place since 1973, a move that would require congressional approval and likely face major opposition.
Bowser said the president can take greater control of the city’s police under certain circumstances, but insisted those conditions have not been met.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
