For Trump, Cities Like Washington Are Real Estate in Need of Fixing Up
Washington, he says, is 'unsafe' and 'dirty' and 'disgusting.' It is menaced by 'bloodthirsty criminals' and marred by homelessness. It needs to be cleaned up and made 'beautiful again.'
Mr. Trump's bleak description of Washington is consistent with his view of American cities as dangerous and violent, dating to his time in New York City in the 1970s and '80s during a period of rampant crime. On Monday, as he announced a temporary federal takeover of Washington's police, Mr. Trump suggested that his background as a New York real estate developer made him more suited than the local authorities to blot out crime and homelessness in the nation's capital.
'It's a natural instinct as a real estate person,' Mr. Trump told reporters as he compared his envisioned makeover of Washington to his recent gold-trimmed makeover of the White House. 'I was very good at that, and I was very good at fixing things up. I like fixing things up.'
He promised to rid Washington of trash, graffiti, potholes, homeless people and more, even as he ignored the fact that violent crime has fallen recently to a 30-year low. While Washington has struggled with youth crime, particularly robberies and carjackings, overall crime has fallen sharply in recent years.
In 2024, Washington had a violent crime rate of about 1,005 per 100,000 residents, according to data reported to the F.B.I. That is far less than cities with similar population sizes like Memphis and Detroit but also more than cities like Denver, Seattle and Louisville, Ky.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Singaporean man gets 72 years' jail in Malaysia for murder of wife and stepson; 'I vaped when I woke up until I slept': Singapore live news
A Singaporean man who murdered his 27-year-old wife and her 11-year-old son has been sentenced by a Malaysian court to 72 years in prison and 24 strokes of the cane, reports Bernama. Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy reportedly dismembered the bodies and disposed of the body parts in different locations, in an bid to prevent future identification of his victims. More than 30 clients have sought help at We Care Community Services to quit vaping in 2025, reports ST. Social agencies said that they are seeing more young people vaping, with some starting as young as 10 years old. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates: Singaporean man gets 72 years' jail in Malaysia for grisly murder of wife and stepson A 36-year-old Singaporean man found guilty of murdering his wife and stepson has been sentenced by a Malaysian court to 72 years in prison and 24 strokes of the cane, reports Bernama. Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy – who was spared the death penalty – had killed his 27-year-old wife, Norfazera Bidin, and her 11-year-old son, Muhammad Iman Ashraf, in October 2019. The New Straits Times reports that the man dismembered the bodies of his two victims and disposed of the body parts in different locations, in an effort to prevent identification. "The heads of both victims were carefully wrapped and hidden in the ceiling to prevent the smell and blood from being detected," Melaka High Court judge, Anselm Charles Fernandis was quoted by NST as saying. The Melaka High Court has ordered Shahrul to serve 36 years in prison and receive 12 strokes of the cane for each of the two charges – with his sentences to run consecutively starting from his date of arrest on 11 October 2019. 'I vaped when I woke up until I slept': Youth turning to vapes to cope with stress Malcolm (not his real name) turned to etomidate-laced vapes, or Kpods, after he failed his O-level exams. The 18-year-old, in an interview with the Straits Times, recalled how he used Kpods to cope with the stress and disappointment of his O-level setback. A schoolmate had introduced him to them. "My friend said [Kpods] would help with the depression, but it made it worse." Malcolm revealed he would vape from the time he woke up until he slept. Within months, he would start to black out every day. Concerned, his parents contacted an addiction recovery centre, We Care Community Services, for help. He has been attending daily weekday counselling sessions – and is now clean of Kpods for three months. The young man is set to start a PSB Academy course in life sciences in September. Malcom is just one of over 30 clients who sought help at We Care to quit vaping in 2025, reports ST. Social agencies, quoted in the report, said that they are seeing more young people vaping, with some starting as young as 10 years old. You can read more insights from the social workers in the full article, here. Local indie theatre The Projector ceases operations after a decade The Projector, a beloved spot in Singapore's independent cinema scene since 2014, has ceased operations today (19 August). The indie theatre announced the sad news in an Instagram post which stated it "will enter voluntary liquidation after a decade of championing alternative films, local creativity, and community-led programming." "Rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance have made sustaining an independent model in Singapore especially challenging," The Projector explained. You can read the full announcement from The Projector, here. FairPrice warns customers of scam questionnaire claiming $4,000 giveaway FairPrice has warned the public about a fake online questionnaire which claims the company is giving away $4,000. The supermarket chain, in an e-mail alert to customers, said the questionnaire is not linked to FairPrice or endorsed by it. The scam questionnaire is making the rounds on WhatsApp and appears to be an attempt by criminals to gain access to sensitive data. "We will never send SMS, WhatsApp or other messages asking for your username, password or financial information," said FairPrice. More on this story, here. Shein HQ weighs China relocation: Report Online fashion retailer Shein Group is considering relocating its headquarters from Singapore back to China, according to a Bloomberg News report. The report, citing sources, sees the relocation as an effort to gain Beijing authorities' approval for its planned Hong Kong IPO. Shein has reportedly consulted lawyers on setting up a parent company in mainland China but discussions were only preliminary with no guarantee of Shein finalising the move. Shein was founded in China in 2008 by entrepreneur Xu Yangtian and started out selling wedding dresses online. It has since grown into global fashion giant, especially among the Gen Z base who are drawn to the brand's fashion appeal and its pricing. 81-year-old woman taken to hospital after her car turns turtle in accident An 81-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after an accident involving a car and a minibus in Upper Thomson Road on the morning of 18 August. The police were alerted at about 8.55am to the accident which resulted in a car overturning. The woman, who was the driver of the red car, was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. A 55-year-old male minibus driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing, said police. More details of the accident can be found here. Around 20,000 children taken from Ukraine by Russia, Zelensky says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked US first lady Melania Trump for her "compassion" and advocacy for children amid Russia's war with Ukraine. Melania had penned a letter to Vladimir Putin that spoke about the need to protect children – it was hand-delivered by US President Donald Trump to the Russian leader in Alaska. The letter did not specifically mention Ukrainian children. Zelensky, who hand-delivered a letter to Trump from his own wife for Melania, posted today (19 August) on X that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia. "We are working tirelessly to bring every child home," he said. I want to thank @FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war – the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. We deeply appreciate her compassion and her letter to issue lies at the heart of the war's… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025 You can read Zelensky's full post in the link. Yahoo readers worried about PMD-linked fires A recent poll by Yahoo asking readers if they felt worried about the number of PMD-linked fires this year has returned an overwhelming response of 'Yes'. Results showed that 98% of the 523 votes – at press time – were troubled by fires resulting from overheated PMD batteries, especially given the personal mobility devices are typically stored in homes. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said there have already been 20 such PMD-related fires in the first half of 2025, up from 10 in the same period in 2024. Earlier this month, a blaze at a Bukit Merah HDB that killed two people is believed to have started from a PMD battery pack. Trump's meeting with Zelensky: Key takeaways US President Donald Trump's meeting on Monday (18 August) with Volodymyr Zelensky went drastically different than six months ago, when the Ukrainian leader was reprimanded for not wearing a suit and not being thankful enough for US military support. Here are key takeaways from this latest attempt to end the Ukraine war: Trump tells Zelensky US will be involved in security guarantees for Ukraine. European leaders praise Trump but say tough work is still ahead More formal attire and far different reception for Zelensky. Next steps in the negotiations turn back to Putin. Follow the links for more details on each topic. Controversial Singapore athlete Soh Rui Yong has no regrets Soh Rui Yong says he has no regrets after the controversial runner was left out of a preliminary list for the upcoming SEA Games. The 34-year-old, in an in-depth interview with CNA, believes there is no point in regretting decisions from the past as "you cannot go back and change it." Soh is considered by many to be Singapore's greatest marathoner but lawsuits and public spats have tarnished the public's perception of him. However, Soh said in the interview that he has grown as a person, especially after getting married in 2023. He revealed to CNA plans to compete in the 2029 SEA Games hosted in Singapore. "You won't see the end of me anytime soon," he said. You can read the full Soh Rui Yong article, here. Jet Li reportedly had surgery to remove benign tumour Legendary martial arts star Jet Li has reassured fans that he is doing fine after an operation. The 62-year-old had worried fans after he shared a video, on 17 August, of himself lying in bed in hospital with his eyes closed. "I've recently faced another unexpected challenge," he said in the post. Li posted another video later that night of himself being wheeled into the operating theatre. He explained that: "A few days ago, my hardware broke down, so I sent it back to the manufacturer for repair." The actor did not specify what his medical condition was but a close friend was quoted in Taiwanese newspaper China Times as saying the surgery was to remove a small benign tumour. Li has posted a video of himself after the surgery, where he said: "I feel much better now. Let's tell the others that I'm fine." A 36-year-old Singaporean man found guilty of murdering his wife and stepson has been sentenced by a Malaysian court to 72 years in prison and 24 strokes of the cane, reports Bernama. Shahrul Nizam Zuraimy – who was spared the death penalty – had killed his 27-year-old wife, Norfazera Bidin, and her 11-year-old son, Muhammad Iman Ashraf, in October 2019. The New Straits Times reports that the man dismembered the bodies of his two victims and disposed of the body parts in different locations, in an effort to prevent identification. "The heads of both victims were carefully wrapped and hidden in the ceiling to prevent the smell and blood from being detected," Melaka High Court judge, Anselm Charles Fernandis was quoted by NST as saying. The Melaka High Court has ordered Shahrul to serve 36 years in prison and receive 12 strokes of the cane for each of the two charges – with his sentences to run consecutively starting from his date of arrest on 11 October 2019. Malcolm (not his real name) turned to etomidate-laced vapes, or Kpods, after he failed his O-level exams. The 18-year-old, in an interview with the Straits Times, recalled how he used Kpods to cope with the stress and disappointment of his O-level setback. A schoolmate had introduced him to them. "My friend said [Kpods] would help with the depression, but it made it worse." Malcolm revealed he would vape from the time he woke up until he slept. Within months, he would start to black out every day. Concerned, his parents contacted an addiction recovery centre, We Care Community Services, for help. He has been attending daily weekday counselling sessions – and is now clean of Kpods for three months. The young man is set to start a PSB Academy course in life sciences in September. Malcom is just one of over 30 clients who sought help at We Care to quit vaping in 2025, reports ST. Social agencies, quoted in the report, said that they are seeing more young people vaping, with some starting as young as 10 years old. You can read more insights from the social workers in the full article, here. Local indie theatre The Projector ceases operations after a decade The Projector, a beloved spot in Singapore's independent cinema scene since 2014, has ceased operations today (19 August). The indie theatre announced the sad news in an Instagram post which stated it "will enter voluntary liquidation after a decade of championing alternative films, local creativity, and community-led programming." "Rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance have made sustaining an independent model in Singapore especially challenging," The Projector explained. You can read the full announcement from The Projector, here. The Projector, a beloved spot in Singapore's independent cinema scene since 2014, has ceased operations today (19 August). The indie theatre announced the sad news in an Instagram post which stated it "will enter voluntary liquidation after a decade of championing alternative films, local creativity, and community-led programming." "Rising operational costs, shifting audience habits, and the global decline in cinema attendance have made sustaining an independent model in Singapore especially challenging," The Projector explained. You can read the full announcement from The Projector, here. FairPrice warns customers of scam questionnaire claiming $4,000 giveaway FairPrice has warned the public about a fake online questionnaire which claims the company is giving away $4,000. The supermarket chain, in an e-mail alert to customers, said the questionnaire is not linked to FairPrice or endorsed by it. The scam questionnaire is making the rounds on WhatsApp and appears to be an attempt by criminals to gain access to sensitive data. "We will never send SMS, WhatsApp or other messages asking for your username, password or financial information," said FairPrice. More on this story, here. FairPrice has warned the public about a fake online questionnaire which claims the company is giving away $4,000. The supermarket chain, in an e-mail alert to customers, said the questionnaire is not linked to FairPrice or endorsed by it. The scam questionnaire is making the rounds on WhatsApp and appears to be an attempt by criminals to gain access to sensitive data. "We will never send SMS, WhatsApp or other messages asking for your username, password or financial information," said FairPrice. More on this story, here. Shein HQ weighs China relocation: Report Online fashion retailer Shein Group is considering relocating its headquarters from Singapore back to China, according to a Bloomberg News report. The report, citing sources, sees the relocation as an effort to gain Beijing authorities' approval for its planned Hong Kong IPO. Shein has reportedly consulted lawyers on setting up a parent company in mainland China but discussions were only preliminary with no guarantee of Shein finalising the move. Shein was founded in China in 2008 by entrepreneur Xu Yangtian and started out selling wedding dresses online. It has since grown into global fashion giant, especially among the Gen Z base who are drawn to the brand's fashion appeal and its pricing. Online fashion retailer Shein Group is considering relocating its headquarters from Singapore back to China, according to a Bloomberg News report. The report, citing sources, sees the relocation as an effort to gain Beijing authorities' approval for its planned Hong Kong IPO. Shein has reportedly consulted lawyers on setting up a parent company in mainland China but discussions were only preliminary with no guarantee of Shein finalising the move. Shein was founded in China in 2008 by entrepreneur Xu Yangtian and started out selling wedding dresses online. It has since grown into global fashion giant, especially among the Gen Z base who are drawn to the brand's fashion appeal and its pricing. 81-year-old woman taken to hospital after her car turns turtle in accident An 81-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after an accident involving a car and a minibus in Upper Thomson Road on the morning of 18 August. The police were alerted at about 8.55am to the accident which resulted in a car overturning. The woman, who was the driver of the red car, was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. A 55-year-old male minibus driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing, said police. More details of the accident can be found here. An 81-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after an accident involving a car and a minibus in Upper Thomson Road on the morning of 18 August. The police were alerted at about 8.55am to the accident which resulted in a car overturning. The woman, who was the driver of the red car, was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. A 55-year-old male minibus driver is assisting with investigations, which are ongoing, said police. More details of the accident can be found here. Around 20,000 children taken from Ukraine by Russia, Zelensky says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked US first lady Melania Trump for her "compassion" and advocacy for children amid Russia's war with Ukraine. Melania had penned a letter to Vladimir Putin that spoke about the need to protect children – it was hand-delivered by US President Donald Trump to the Russian leader in Alaska. The letter did not specifically mention Ukrainian children. Zelensky, who hand-delivered a letter to Trump from his own wife for Melania, posted today (19 August) on X that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia. "We are working tirelessly to bring every child home," he said. I want to thank @FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war – the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. We deeply appreciate her compassion and her letter to issue lies at the heart of the war's… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025 You can read Zelensky's full post in the link. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked US first lady Melania Trump for her "compassion" and advocacy for children amid Russia's war with Ukraine. Melania had penned a letter to Vladimir Putin that spoke about the need to protect children – it was hand-delivered by US President Donald Trump to the Russian leader in Alaska. The letter did not specifically mention Ukrainian children. Zelensky, who hand-delivered a letter to Trump from his own wife for Melania, posted today (19 August) on X that at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia. "We are working tirelessly to bring every child home," he said. I want to thank @FLOTUS Melania Trump for her attention to one of the most painful and difficult issues of this war – the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. We deeply appreciate her compassion and her letter to issue lies at the heart of the war's… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025 You can read Zelensky's full post in the link. Yahoo readers worried about PMD-linked fires A recent poll by Yahoo asking readers if they felt worried about the number of PMD-linked fires this year has returned an overwhelming response of 'Yes'. Results showed that 98% of the 523 votes – at press time – were troubled by fires resulting from overheated PMD batteries, especially given the personal mobility devices are typically stored in homes. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said there have already been 20 such PMD-related fires in the first half of 2025, up from 10 in the same period in 2024. Earlier this month, a blaze at a Bukit Merah HDB that killed two people is believed to have started from a PMD battery pack. A recent poll by Yahoo asking readers if they felt worried about the number of PMD-linked fires this year has returned an overwhelming response of 'Yes'. Results showed that 98% of the 523 votes – at press time – were troubled by fires resulting from overheated PMD batteries, especially given the personal mobility devices are typically stored in homes. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said there have already been 20 such PMD-related fires in the first half of 2025, up from 10 in the same period in 2024. Earlier this month, a blaze at a Bukit Merah HDB that killed two people is believed to have started from a PMD battery pack. Trump's meeting with Zelensky: Key takeaways US President Donald Trump's meeting on Monday (18 August) with Volodymyr Zelensky went drastically different than six months ago, when the Ukrainian leader was reprimanded for not wearing a suit and not being thankful enough for US military support. Here are key takeaways from this latest attempt to end the Ukraine war: Trump tells Zelensky US will be involved in security guarantees for Ukraine. European leaders praise Trump but say tough work is still ahead More formal attire and far different reception for Zelensky. Next steps in the negotiations turn back to Putin. Follow the links for more details on each topic. US President Donald Trump's meeting on Monday (18 August) with Volodymyr Zelensky went drastically different than six months ago, when the Ukrainian leader was reprimanded for not wearing a suit and not being thankful enough for US military support. Here are key takeaways from this latest attempt to end the Ukraine war: Trump tells Zelensky US will be involved in security guarantees for Ukraine. European leaders praise Trump but say tough work is still ahead More formal attire and far different reception for Zelensky. Next steps in the negotiations turn back to Putin. Follow the links for more details on each topic. Controversial Singapore athlete Soh Rui Yong has no regrets Soh Rui Yong says he has no regrets after the controversial runner was left out of a preliminary list for the upcoming SEA Games. The 34-year-old, in an in-depth interview with CNA, believes there is no point in regretting decisions from the past as "you cannot go back and change it." Soh is considered by many to be Singapore's greatest marathoner but lawsuits and public spats have tarnished the public's perception of him. However, Soh said in the interview that he has grown as a person, especially after getting married in 2023. He revealed to CNA plans to compete in the 2029 SEA Games hosted in Singapore. "You won't see the end of me anytime soon," he said. You can read the full Soh Rui Yong article, here. Soh Rui Yong says he has no regrets after the controversial runner was left out of a preliminary list for the upcoming SEA Games. The 34-year-old, in an in-depth interview with CNA, believes there is no point in regretting decisions from the past as "you cannot go back and change it." Soh is considered by many to be Singapore's greatest marathoner but lawsuits and public spats have tarnished the public's perception of him. However, Soh said in the interview that he has grown as a person, especially after getting married in 2023. He revealed to CNA plans to compete in the 2029 SEA Games hosted in Singapore. "You won't see the end of me anytime soon," he said. You can read the full Soh Rui Yong article, here. Jet Li reportedly had surgery to remove benign tumour Legendary martial arts star Jet Li has reassured fans that he is doing fine after an operation. The 62-year-old had worried fans after he shared a video, on 17 August, of himself lying in bed in hospital with his eyes closed. "I've recently faced another unexpected challenge," he said in the post. Li posted another video later that night of himself being wheeled into the operating theatre. He explained that: "A few days ago, my hardware broke down, so I sent it back to the manufacturer for repair." The actor did not specify what his medical condition was but a close friend was quoted in Taiwanese newspaper China Times as saying the surgery was to remove a small benign tumour. Li has posted a video of himself after the surgery, where he said: "I feel much better now. Let's tell the others that I'm fine." Legendary martial arts star Jet Li has reassured fans that he is doing fine after an operation. The 62-year-old had worried fans after he shared a video, on 17 August, of himself lying in bed in hospital with his eyes closed. "I've recently faced another unexpected challenge," he said in the post. Li posted another video later that night of himself being wheeled into the operating theatre. He explained that: "A few days ago, my hardware broke down, so I sent it back to the manufacturer for repair." The actor did not specify what his medical condition was but a close friend was quoted in Taiwanese newspaper China Times as saying the surgery was to remove a small benign tumour. Li has posted a video of himself after the surgery, where he said: "I feel much better now. Let's tell the others that I'm fine."
CNBC
13 minutes ago
- CNBC
Many unknowns about the nature of 'security guarantees': Chatham House
Jaroslava Barbieri, research fellow at Chatham House, says the overall mood from the Trump-Ukraine talks on Monday was one of "cautious optimism," but there were many unknowns about promised "security guarantees."
NBC News
13 minutes ago
- NBC News
Trump administration revoked more than 6,000 student visas, State Department says
WASHINGTON — The administration of President Donald Trump has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and breaking the law, including a small minority for 'support for terrorism,' a State Department official said Monday. The move, first reported by Fox Digital, comes as the Trump administration has adopted a particularly hard-line approach toward student visas as part of its immigration crackdown, tightening social media vetting and expanding screening. Directives from the State Department this year have ordered U.S. diplomats abroad to be vigilant against any applicants whom Washington may see as hostile to the United States and with a history of political activism. Around 4,000 visas were canceled because the visitors broke the law, with the vast majority being assault, the official said. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and burglary were other offenses, the official added. About 200 to 300 visas were revoked for terrorism, the official said, citing a rule about visa ineligibility under the State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual. The rule identifies ineligibility grounds generally as 'engaging in terrorist activities' and 'having certain links to terrorist organizations.' The official did not say which groups the students whose visas have been revoked were in support of. Trump has clashed with several top-level U.S. universities, accusing them of becoming bastions of antisemitism following large-scale student protests advocating Palestinian rights amid the Gaza war. In his clash with Harvard, Trump has frozen funding for investigations and threatened to remove the university's tax-exempt status, prompting several European nations to increase research grants to attract talent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he has revoked the visas of hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, including students, because they got involved in activities that he said went against U.S. foreign policy priorities. Trump administration officials have said that student visa and green card holders are subject to deportation over their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, calling their actions a threat to U.S. foreign policy and accusing them of being pro-Hamas. A Tufts University student from Turkey was held for over six weeks in an immigration detention center in Louisiana after co-writing an opinion piece criticizing her school's response to Israel's war in Gaza. She was released from custody after a federal judge granted her bail.
