National Guard Arrives as Trump Seizes D.C. Police Authority/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTOn/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops and taken control of Washington, D.C.’s police department. Mayor Muriel Bowser disputes his claims of a “crime emergency,” citing falling violent crime rates. The move highlights tensions over D.C.’s autonomy and the broader fight for statehood.
Trump’s D.C. Police Takeover Quick Looks
- Troop Deployment: 800 National Guard members arriving in Washington, D.C.
- Federal Control: Trump assumes temporary authority over the Metropolitan Police Department.
- Mayor’s Response: Bowser says crime is falling; calls move a “so-called emergency.”
- Legal Basis: Home Rule Act Section 740 allows 48-hour control, extendable to 30 days.
- Historic First: No previous president has invoked this police takeover power.
- Crime Stats: 2024 saw a 30-year low in violent crime; further drops in 2025.
- Juvenile Crime: Over half of arrestees in 2024 were under 18, sparking debate over punishment.
- Political Context: Bowser and Trump have clashed since 2017 over protests, public art, and parades.
- Civil Liberties Concerns: ACLU warns of unprecedented precedent for federal overreach.
- Statehood Push: Bowser links the move to D.C.’s lack of statehood and autonomy.
National Guard Arrives as Trump Seizes D.C. Police Authority
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — National Guard troops began arriving in the nation’s capital Tuesday, just hours after President Donald Trump announced he would assume direct control of Washington, D.C.’s police force and flood the city with federal reinforcements.
The move, which Trump justified by declaring an unsubstantiated “crime emergency,” grants the president sweeping — though time-limited — powers under the 1973 Home Rule Act. It is the first time a U.S. president has used this specific authority, allowing a takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department for up to 48 hours, with extensions possible for 30 days during emergencies.
A Clash Over Crime and Control
At a Monday press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back against Trump’s claims, pointing to data showing that violent crime in D.C. fell to a three-decade low in 2024 and has continued to decline this year. Carjackings dropped by about 50% in 2024 and remain down in 2025.
Bowser, a Democrat who has sparred publicly with Trump since his first term, called the federal intervention “not a productive step” but admitted that under current law, her administration must comply. “We could contest that,” she said, “but his authority is pretty broad.”
The mayor tied the action to the city’s long-standing push for statehood, arguing that D.C.’s lack of full autonomy makes it vulnerable to political interference.
A History of Tensions
The relationship between Bowser and Trump has been turbulent for years. She opposed his plans for a military parade, publicly challenged his 2020 deployment of federal officers against racial justice protesters, and authorized the now-famous “Black Lives Matter” street mural near the White House.
In Trump’s second term — with Republicans controlling Congress — the power dynamics have shifted. Bowser’s dismantling of Black Lives Matter Plaza earlier this year symbolized the new reality. Now, Trump’s police takeover marks an escalation that even Bowser’s critics see as a “power play” rather than a safety measure.
Criticism from Civil Rights Groups
Civil liberties advocates voiced alarm. Monica Hopkins, head of the ACLU’s D.C. chapter, warned that no president had ever invoked this takeover authority before: “That should alarm everyone — not just in Washington.”
Clinique Chapman, CEO of the D.C. Justice Lab, accused both Trump and Bowser of flawed crime strategies but argued the president’s move “is not about creating a safer D.C. It’s just about power.”
Federal Power and Political Strategy
Trump’s declaration fits a pattern of using emergency powers to bypass normal political processes, from border policy to trade tariffs. Supporters frame the move as decisive law enforcement; critics see it as federal overreach.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, standing beside Trump, declared: “Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today.” Former judge and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, recently confirmed as U.S. attorney for D.C., said the intervention would make criminals understand “they are not going to get away with it anymore.”
Ironically, earlier this year Trump’s own first choice for U.S. attorney, Ed Martin, praised a 25% drop in violent crime in the city — crediting Trump’s “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative.
Looking Ahead
What remains uncertain is how long the National Guard presence will last, how aggressively federal forces will operate, and whether the move will lead to confrontations on D.C.’s streets.
For Bowser, the episode reinforces her argument for full D.C. statehood. For Trump, it is an opportunity to showcase a hardline approach to crime in a city that has been a political adversary since his first inauguration.
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