President Donald Trump on Thursday called his efforts to reduce crime in Washington, DC a success. He visited the US Park Police headquarters in Southeast Washington, where he met with federal officers deployed under his new plan.
As a gesture of support, Trump brought along pizza and hamburgers for the officers. Speaking to several hundred uniformed personnel, he praised their efforts and claimed crime was already going down because of their work. “It’s like a different place,” Trump said. “Everybody is safe now.” He did not provide any data to back up his claim but projected confidence in the results, according to a Reuters report.
Earlier in the day, Trump had said he planned to go on patrol with law enforcement during his visit. However, that ride-along never actually took place. The president has described Washington as being caught in a violent crime wave, and last week he declared a public safety emergency, the report mentioned.
As part of his plan, he deployed National Guard soldiers and federal agents to the capital. He also announced that he was temporarily taking control of the city’s police department, an extraordinary step that shows how far he is willing to go to push his law-and-order agenda.
Senior officials rally behind Trump
Trump has not been alone in defending his crime crackdown. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited troops at Union Station earlier this week, but they were met with boos and jeers from protesters.
On Thursday, Trump was joined by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, his White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who is best known for designing Trump’s immigration crackdown. Their presence signaled the White House’s full commitment to the tough law-and-order stance.
Tough tactics trigger complaints
Trump’s crackdown has brought new measures to the city, including more stop-and-frisk operations and federal patrols in residential neighborhoods.
These methods have raised concerns among residents who feel the tactics are too heavy-handed. Some say the measures go beyond targeting violent crime and instead intrude into their daily lives. Despite the criticism, Trump told officers that Washington was bouncing back, saying, “We’re going to have the best capital ever.”
Protests over Federal takeover
Trump’s 30-day takeover of local law enforcement has triggered demonstrations across the city. Some of the protests have been organised outside the White House, while others have been spontaneous, with residents directly confronting federal officers.
In one unusual incident, a man was charged with a felony after throwing a sandwich at an officer. The protests are also a reminder of the backlash Trump faced five years ago when he sent National Guard troops to clear racial justice protesters near the White House.