Donald Trump-appointed Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon serving under Attorney General Pam Bondi recently escaped a crime nightmare in Washington DC, according to her social media update. The Indian-American lawyer took to her X profile early Wednesday (IST) to share that a homeless person tried to steal her phone while she was walking in the US capital city. The incident is believed to have taken place near the official residence, White House.
“A malodorous homeless person attempted to swipe my phone today while I was walking in DC back to the DOJ from an appointment,” she wrote on X. “…but he was not in his right mind and I artfully dodged the attempt. It’ll be a while till things feel safe in this city, so everyone stay alert!”
Indian-American lawyer Harmeet Dhillon escapes mugging amid Trump’s crime crackdown
Hours later, she returned to her page, affirming that she had walked away unscathed despite the alleged incident. “For those asking, I’m ok, nothing happened. I was faster than the homeless guy,” Dhillon said in a follow-up tweet.
She also went on to confirm the location where the suspected homeless man tried to mug her. “It was next to the NY Ave Presbyterian Church. Several other homeless and mentally fragile people around. Close to the WH and tourist stuff,” the Indian-American Trump appointee added.
Her SNS update came to light in the same week as the Republican US president ramped up his crime crackdown in Washington DC. Trump initially furiously expressed his views on the matter over a week ago when he reported via his Truth Social platform that Elon Musk’s former DOGE employee Edward Coristine had allegedly been attacked ruthlessly by “local thugs” in the nation’s capital.
For those asking, I’m ok, nothing happened. I was faster than the homeless guy. It was next to the NY Ave Presbyterian Church. Several other homeless and mentally fragile people around. Close to the WH and tourist stuff.
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) August 13, 2025
Trump’s DC takeover: Federalising the US capital
Threatening a federal takeover of DC, Trump went on, “Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of violent crime… If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and federalise this city. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
On Wednesday (US time), US National Guard troops started pouring out onto the streets of Washington DC, a day after the POTUS deployed them to the city and took charge of the police force. Officials, as quoted by the BBC, shared that 800 National Guard troops are expected to respond to the present development. Moreover, 500 federal law enforcement agents would also be deployed for the same.
Meanwhile, Democratic DC Mayor Muriel Bowser had dismissed Trump’s claims of violence slipping out of control in the city, calling his deployment of troops as an “authoritarian push.” Much like the mayor’s statement, Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police (MPDC) insisted that overall violent crime has gone down 26% and robbery is down 28% in 2025 as opposed to where it stood at this point last year.
Consequently, protestors have since taken to the streets and begun chanting “Go home Fascists!” at a police checkpoint, which had Homeland Security agents, according to the New York Times.