US President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of military and federal law enforcement personnel to Washington, D.C. in a bid to curb rising crime in the capital.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, 11 August, Trump confirmed that the city’s police force would be placed under federal control and that members of the National Guard would be deployed.
Deployment Details
| Measure | Initial Numbers | Additional Provision |
| National Guard deployment | 800 personnel | May be increased if required |
| Local police placed under federal command | — | Effective immediately |
Republican politicians have accused Washington, D.C. of being plagued by high crime rates, overwhelmed by homelessness, and suffering from economic mismanagement.
Trump declared: “This is Washington, D.C.’s Independence Day. We are going to take back our capital.”
Public Reaction
As Trump delivered his remarks, several dozen people gathered outside the White House in protest.
One attendee, Elizabeth Critchley, aged 62, expressed strong opposition: “There is absolutely no need for the National Guard here. This is all for show — a big stage for political drama.”
