Donald Trump deploys National Guard to Washington DC over 'public safety' emergency
Trump announced his decision on Monday to combat the supposed lawlessness, despite statistics showing that violent crime hit a 30-year low in 2024.
He stated: 'This is Liberation Day in DC, and we're going to take our capital back. Trump has deployed the National Guard to DC. Pic:'I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington DC.
'Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals.'
As he made the announcement at the White House, Trump was supported by administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Washington DC is just the latest Democratic city that Trump has targeted by exercising executive power over traditionally local matters.
The 79-year-old similarly deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in June to respond to protests over his administration's immigration raids.
He has consistently dismissed criticism that he is manufacturing a crisis to justify expanding presidential authority.
Hundreds of officers and agents from over a dozen federal agencies, including the FBI, ICE, DEA, and ATF, have already been deployed across Washington DC in recent days. The National Guard has been deployed to DC before. Pic:The Democratic mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, has pushed back on Trump's claims, explaining that the city is 'not experiencing a crime spike' and highlighting that violent crime hit its lowest level in more than three decades last year.
Violent crime fell 26% in the first seven months of 2025 after dropping 35% in 2024 and overall crime dropped 7%, according to Washington's police department.
However, gun violence does remain an issue in the capital.
In 2023, Washington had the third-highest gun homicide rate among US cities with populations over 500,000, according to gun control advocacy group 'Everytown for Gun Safety'.
The Washington Mayor's criticism of Trump is again similar to what happened in California earlier this summer.
A federal trial was set to begin in San Francisco on whether the Trump administration violated US law by deploying National Guard troops and US Marines to LA without the approval of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Monday's deployment is different as the US President has broad authority over the 2,700 members of the DC National Guard. Trump has been targeting Democratic cities with executive power. Pic:In other states, Governors typically hold the power to activate troops.
During his first term in the White House, Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington in 2020 as a response to the mostly peaceful demonstrations during nationwide protests over police brutality following the murder of George Floyd.
Civil rights leaders denounced the deployment, which was also opposed by the Mayor.
Another time Guard troops were deployed to DC was when a flock of Trump supporters attacked and invaded the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The US military is generally prohibited under law from directly participating in domestic law enforcement activities.
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