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| Trump orders seven-day crackdown in Washington DC citing ‘violent crime’ | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| President mobilizes officers after attack on ex-Doge staffer despite city’s violent crime hitting 30-year low in 2024 | |
| Donald Trump has ordered federal officers to start sweeping the streets of Washington DC, launching what the White House is calling a seven-day crackdown on violent crime just one day after threatening to “federalize” the city. | Donald Trump has ordered federal officers to start sweeping the streets of Washington DC, launching what the White House is calling a seven-day crackdown on violent crime just one day after threatening to “federalize” the city. |
| The mobilization, which began on Thursday night, follows an attempted carjacking that left well-known Trump administration figure Edward “Big Balls” Coristine bloodied and injured. | The mobilization, which began on Thursday night, follows an attempted carjacking that left well-known Trump administration figure Edward “Big Balls” Coristine bloodied and injured. |
| “Washington DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in DC.” | “Washington DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in DC.” |
| The deployments come despite crime statistics showing violent crime in Washington hit a 30-year low in 2024, according to city police data. Crime has continued to decline in the first half of 2025 compared with the previous year. | The deployments come despite crime statistics showing violent crime in Washington hit a 30-year low in 2024, according to city police data. Crime has continued to decline in the first half of 2025 compared with the previous year. |
| The operation will focus on “high traffic tourist areas”, Leavitt said, and involves multiple federal agencies working alongside local police forces under Trump’s March executive order “Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force”. | The operation will focus on “high traffic tourist areas”, Leavitt said, and involves multiple federal agencies working alongside local police forces under Trump’s March executive order “Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force”. |
| All federal officers are clearly identified in marked vehicles and maintain high visibility, according to the White House statement. | All federal officers are clearly identified in marked vehicles and maintain high visibility, according to the White House statement. |
| The announcement follows Trump’s social media threat to take federal control of Washington DC if local authorities failed to address crime. In a Truth Social post, the president called for minors as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults and declared: “If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.” | The announcement follows Trump’s social media threat to take federal control of Washington DC if local authorities failed to address crime. In a Truth Social post, the president called for minors as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults and declared: “If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.” |
| Federal officers from the US park police will lead the effort, supported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s homeland security investigations unit and enforcement and removal operations divisions. The Metropolitan police department, US Capitol police and Metro transit police are also participating. | Federal officers from the US park police will lead the effort, supported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s homeland security investigations unit and enforcement and removal operations divisions. The Metropolitan police department, US Capitol police and Metro transit police are also participating. |
| On the first night after the White House announcement, federal agent deployment across the city was reportedly minimal. The Associated Press conducted a two-hour street tour starting at 1am and found little evidence of the promised surge. | On the first night after the White House announcement, federal agent deployment across the city was reportedly minimal. The Associated Press conducted a two-hour street tour starting at 1am and found little evidence of the promised surge. |
| Just before 2am on Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives posted on social media that federal law enforcement partners were “out ensuring that the residents of the District of Columbia are safer this evening” while appearing to be near the Petworth metro station in north-west Washington DC. They tagged US park police, the US Marshals Service and local Ice and FBI offices. | Just before 2am on Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives posted on social media that federal law enforcement partners were “out ensuring that the residents of the District of Columbia are safer this evening” while appearing to be near the Petworth metro station in north-west Washington DC. They tagged US park police, the US Marshals Service and local Ice and FBI offices. |
| The Washington Legal Clinic raised concerns about the operation’s scope, warning on social media that Trump was planning “7 nights of action, rounding up homeless people and attempting civil commitment or arrests for as many as possible”. The organization noted there was currently no available shelter space. | The Washington Legal Clinic raised concerns about the operation’s scope, warning on social media that Trump was planning “7 nights of action, rounding up homeless people and attempting civil commitment or arrests for as many as possible”. The organization noted there was currently no available shelter space. |
| The White House, in their statement, said the seven-day operation could be extended “as needed”. | The White House, in their statement, said the seven-day operation could be extended “as needed”. |