Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, August 10, pledged a sweeping effort to address crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C., promising to remove homeless individuals from the capital and enforce tougher penalties on offenders.
“I’m going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We want our Capital BACK.”
He added, “The homeless have to move out, immediately. We will give you places to stay, but far from the Capital. The criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong. It’s all going to happen very fast, just like the Border. This will be easier — be prepared! There will be no ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’”
Trump indicated that more details would be announced during a news conference scheduled for Monday.
His remarks come in the wake of an alleged assault near Dupont Circle, where Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency—now working at the Social Security Administration—was reportedly attacked by a group of juveniles while attempting to intervene in a carjacking. Two suspects have been arrested, and a $10,000 reward has been offered for information on the remaining individuals involved.
Last week, Trump also announced plans to deploy federal law enforcement to Washington, D.C., to address rising concerns about crime.
Like many major U.S. cities, Washington, D.C., faces ongoing issues with homeless encampments. Governed under the 1973 Home Rule Act, the city operates with a unique balance of local and federal authority. Some Republican lawmakers have suggested a federal intervention or takeover of city governance to more aggressively tackle crime and public safety issues.
Mayor Muriel Bowser responded by stating that the city is committed to working with federal agencies but pushed back against claims of a crime wave. “He’s interested in being in neighborhoods, fighting crime in neighborhoods. We are not experiencing a crime spike,” Bowser said.
Despite political differences, Bowser has previously met with Trump and expressed shared goals of improving safety and cleanliness in the city.
According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime is down 26% compared to the previous year, with homicides down 12% and overall crime down 7%. However, Washington, D.C., still ranks among the highest cities nationwide for homicides, placing fourth in 2023.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller added to the criticism, describing D.C. as “more violent than Baghdad,” though no direct comparative data was provided.
