President Donald Trump has declared a “public safety emergency” in Washington DC, deploying 800 National Guard troops and taking temporary control of the city’s police force under federal law. He cited rising lawlessness, gangs, and homelessness as reasons for the move, according to BBC.
Mayor Muriel Bowser rejected the claim of a crime surge, pointing to sharp drops in homicides since 2023. She called the action “unsettling and unprecedented.”
Trump also pledged to clear homeless encampments but gave no specifics. Local advocates said homelessness is already declining and warned relocation is not a real solution.
Protesters outside the White House accused Trump of seeking control rather than safety. This is the first National Guard deployment to the capital since the 2021 Capitol riot, BBC reported.
