Trump: White House to Hold Press Conference on DC Crime Monday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said a press conference will be held at the White House on Monday to address the crime in Washington, D.C.
“On Monday a Press Conference will be held at the White House which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, D.C. It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said on August 6 he may use the National Guard to police the streets of Washington, D.C., the latest threat by the administration toward taking over the running the city that serves as the seat of the U.S. government. Washington, D.C. is on alert as Trump signals a possible federal takeover following a recent high-profile assault. While Thursday’s promised midnight federal security surge showed little visible presence, the White House says operations are underway with multiple federal agencies involved. Trump’s plan could escalate to curfews, National Guard deployment, or even revoking the city’s “home rule” authority.
DC Federal Takeover Threat Quick Looks
- Trump promises seven-day federal security lockdown, extendable as needed.
- Thursday night patrols saw mostly local police, not mass federal presence.
- Catalyst: assault on federal official in attempted carjacking.
- Mayor Bowser silent on Trump’s announcement, MPD quiet as well.
- White House: 120+ federal officers on streets Friday night.
- Trump options: National Guard, emergency declaration, repeal of Home Rule Act.
- Crime stats: carjackings and homicides have dropped since 2023.
Trump: White House to Hold Press Conference on DC Crime Monday
Deep Look
The latest flashpoint came after the assault of a senior official in Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency during an attempted carjacking by teenagers last weekend. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested, and police are seeking others.
Trump seized on the incident to renew calls for federal control, saying on Truth Social, “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City… and put criminals on notice.”
Thursday Night Showdown That Wasn’t
Trump had announced a seven-day federal security lockdown starting at midnight Thursday, but in the early hours of Friday, city streets showed no dramatic influx of federal law enforcement. A tour of nightlife hotspots between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. revealed a standard Metropolitan Police Department presence, without the “multiagency flood” Trump suggested.
The White House says operations began quietly Thursday night, leading to arrests for possession of stolen firearms, fentanyl, and marijuana. By Friday night, over 120 officers from agencies including the Secret Service, FBI, and U.S. Marshals were deployed.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, D.C.”
In an online post Saturday, Trump predicted the Democratic-led city would soon be “one of the country’s safest” and scheduled a White House press conference for Monday.
Mayor Bowser and MPD Stay Silent
Mayor Muriel Bowser—who clashed with Trump in 2020 over the deployment of federal forces during racial justice protests—has yet to publicly respond to the latest announcement. The Metropolitan Police Department has also remained silent.
Crime Picture in DC
While Trump portrays the city as spiraling out of control, Bowser’s administration points to a significant decline in homicides and carjackings since 2023. Carjackings fell from 957 in 2023 to under 500 in 2024, and fewer than 200 have been recorded so far in 2025.
However, juveniles account for more than half of carjacking arrests. In response, the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation this summer expanding youth curfews and granting the police chief authority to impose four-day curfew zones where groups of nine or more minors can’t gather after 8 p.m.
Trump’s Legal Options
Trump is within his authority to deploy federal law enforcement in the District. He could call up the National Guard without local approval, as he did in 2020 during the George Floyd protests and again on January 6, 2021.
Taking over the Metropolitan Police Department would require an emergency declaration, which could face legal challenges. A full federal takeover—revoking D.C.’s local autonomy—would need Congress to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which gave residents the right to elect their own mayor and council. Trump says his lawyers are reviewing that possibility.
Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia, notes that Home Rule applies only to D.C., making it uniquely vulnerable to direct federal governance.
Federal Agencies Already Active
Trump’s second administration has already used federal agencies to reshape aspects of city life. The National Park Service has accelerated the removal of homeless encampments on its land and conducted arrests for marijuana use in public parks. Earlier this week, the agency announced it would restore and reinstall a Confederate statue toppled by protesters in 2020, citing a Trump executive order.
What Comes Next
The announced security lockdown is set to run for seven days, but Trump retains the option to extend it. His Monday press conference may outline further steps, including possible National Guard deployment or moves toward assuming more direct control over D.C. governance.
With the city’s leadership silent, federal officers already on the streets, and Trump signaling that the measures could escalate, Washington finds itself on uncertain ground—caught between declining crime rates by local metrics and the president’s determination to assert federal authority.
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