Topline
President Donald Trump on Saturday said a press conference at the White House next week will address crime in Washington, D.C., following his claims that violent crime is widespread in the nation’s capital, despite federal data indicating crime rates have fallen to historic lows.
Key Facts
A White House press conference on Monday will “essentially stop violent crime” in Washington, D.C., Trump wrote on Truth Social, claiming the city had become “one of the most dangerous” in the world.
Trump did not specify what the press conference would entail, though he noted Washington, D.C., would “soon be one of the safest” cities.
Trump has claimed in recent months that violent crime was rampant in Washington, D.C., and has threatened to deploy the National Guard and have the city be taken over by the federal government, writing earlier this week that if “D.C. doesn’t get its act together, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the city.”
Violent Crime Fell To A 30-Year Low In D.c. Last Year—and Rates Are Lower In 2025
Violent crime rates in Washington, D.C., dropped 35% from 2023 to 2024, marking the lowest rates recorded in more than 30 years, according to the Justice Department. According to data released Aug. 8 by the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime rates have continued to fall in 2025, with violent crime down 26% year-over-year. The MPD said homicide rates have dropped 12% on the year so far, sex abuse by 49%, assault with a dangerous weapon by 20% and robbery by 28%. Property crime rates have also fallen, including burglary (19%), theft from vehicles (4%) and other theft crimes (6%).
Why Does Trump Want A Federal Takeover Of D.c.?
Trump previously called for the federal government to take control of Washington, D.C., by falsely claiming violent crime rates were rising in the city. His latest calls follow an attack on a high-ranking member of the Department of Government Efficiency, as Trump wrote on Truth Social that crime in D.C. was “out of control” and the federal government would “put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore.” MPD said two 15-year-old suspects were arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking, after Edward Coristine was assaulted in the early morning of Aug. 3.
Will Trump Deploy The National Guard To D.c.?
It’s not immediately clear whether Trump would bring in the National Guard, though the White House said in a statement that agents from some law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, immigration police and a dozen other offices were deployed early Friday. It’s not immediately clear where or how many agents were deployed, though the White House said deployment was focused on “high traffic areas and other known hotspots.” Officials will be “identified, in marked units, and highly visible.”
Could Trump Order A Federal Takeover Of D.c.?
Trump could lobby support for federal control of Washington, D.C., though doing so would require approval from Congress, which would need to vote to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act. The law established a legal framework for city residents to elect local officials, including a mayor and city council, to manage city business. A bill to repeal the Home Rule Act was introduced by Rep. Andrew Ogles, R-Tenn., in February, though the legislation has yet to move forward. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., told Fox News she would “totally” support Trump if he sought a federal takeover, adding, “If that’s what we need to do to get it done, that’s what he should do.” Trump has said he would support a federal takeover of the MPD, falsely claiming the crime rate in the city was “ridiculous,” though legal experts have said this would likely be challenged in court.
Key Background
Trump proposed the federal government’s takeover of Washington, D.C., multiple times during his presidential campaign last year. He met with Mayor Muriel Bowser at his Mar-a-Lago property in December, during which Bowser said the pair discussed “shared priorities.” Bowser has not directly addressed Trump’s false claims of violent crime rates rising in the city, though she said in February that Washington, D.C. was a “world-class city” and noted the city holds a AAA bond rating from Moody’s and that violent crime was at a 30-year low. Bowser and Trump previously clashed in 2020, when Trump deployed the National Guard to the city as protests enveloped the city and others in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.