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President Donald Trump stated that homeless individuals must be moved "far" from Washington, D.C., as part of his plan to make the capital safer. He also announced a press conference to detail his plans, which may include federalizing the city's government.
Homelessness and Crime: Trump said that homeless people would be provided with places to stay, but "far from the Capital," and that criminals would be "swiftly imprisoned." He falsely claimed that crime in Washington is rising, despite police statistics showing a 26% decrease in violent crime in the first half of 2025 and the city's 2024 crime rates being at their lowest in three decades.
Federal Control: Trump has long expressed a desire to take federal control of Washington, D.C., which is currently run by a locally elected government under congressional oversight. He has also threatened to deploy the National Guard to crack down on crime, similar to his actions in Los Angeles where he deployed California's military reserve force to quell protests over immigration raids.
Mayor's Response: Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, confirmed that the city is not experiencing a crime spike and described comparisons to a "war torn country" as "hyperbolic and false."
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