In a significant move, US National Guard troops have started to patrol the streets of Washington, DC, following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to deploy them to the city. This action comes as the President asserts that violent crime has reached alarming levels, prompting him to take control of the local police force.
On Tuesday evening, armoured vehicles were observed in urban centres and tourist locations throughout the US capital.
Authorities have announced the anticipated deployment of 800 National Guard troops, alongside 500 federal law enforcement agents.
In a recent statement, Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, a member of the Democratic Party, characterized the deployment of troops as an “authoritarian push,” despite her previous assertions that crime in the city is not out of control.
Trump, representing the Republican Party, has issued threats regarding potential deployments in New York and Chicago, both cities under Democratic control.
He has claimed that crime is increasing in urban areas, including Washington, DC; however, an analysis conducted by media Verify indicates a contrasting trend in the capital.
Following a peak in 2023, violent offenses have seen a significant decline, reaching their lowest point in three decades in 2024, as reported by the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC.
Preliminary data for 2025 indicate that the decline is ongoing.
According to the MPDC, violent crime has decreased by 26% this year in comparison to the same period in 2024, with robbery seeing a notable decline of 28%.
Since Trump’s announcement on Monday, camouflaged troops have been gradually arriving in the US capital.
Reports indicate that barricades are being erected outside multiple government buildings, while individuals are also seen taking photos alongside tourists.
On Monday night, federal agents apprehended twenty-three individuals, as confirmed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Local law enforcement is receiving assistance from the agents.
The spokesperson confirmed that the arrests were made in connection with a range of serious offenses, including homicide, gun-related crimes, drug trafficking, lewd acts, stalking, reckless driving, and various other criminal activities.
“This is merely the start,” Leavitt stated.
“In the coming month, the Trump administration is set to intensify efforts to apprehend every violent criminal in the District who violates the law, threatens public safety, and puts law-abiding citizens at risk.”
Kash Patel, the FBI Director, later revealed that FBI agents played a role in approximately 50% of those arrests.
Earlier in the day, the mayor of Washington and the city’s police chief expressed their alignment with the federal agents regarding their shared objectives.
Following a meeting on Tuesday with US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Bowser emphasized her focus on the federal surge and the effective utilization of the federal officers currently available.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department stated, “We recognize the necessity of removing illegal firearms from our streets, and with this increased presence, we are confident it will improve our city significantly.”
During a town hall meeting on Tuesday evening, the mayor intensified her critique of Trump.
In a recent statement, Bowser urged community members to take action in safeguarding their city, autonomy, and home rule. She emphasized the importance of overcoming current challenges. She highlighted the need to elect a Democratic House as a safeguard against what she described as an authoritarian push, as reported by the New York Times.
A search has been initiated for an armed assailant following the fatal shooting of a man on Monday night in Logan Circle, a neighborhood known for its vibrant atmosphere, located just a mile from the White House.
Local media reports indicate that Washington, DC has recorded its 100th homicide of the year.
Authorities report that the individual in question was last observed donning a black shirt and wielding a rifle.
In response to the shooting, the US Secret Service has increased security measures outside the President’s residence as a precautionary step.
In a striking assertion, DC Police Union chairman Gregg Pemberton has accused the city police department of “deliberately falsifying crime data,” claiming that this manipulation creates a misleading narrative of declining crime rates, all while communities continue to endure the consequences.
According to FBI data, crime in Washington, DC experienced a modest decline last year, with a reported decrease of 9%.
Recent studies indicate that the homicide rate in the capital exceeds the average when compared to other major cities across the United States.
