President Trump says other US cities could be next as he deploys National Guard to DC
Trump singled out New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago and Oakland, California during a Monday, Aug. 11, news conference as potential future targets in what would be a drastic escalation of federal presence on the streets of American cities.
"We're not going to lose our cities over this. This will go further. We're starting very strongly with D.C., and we're going to clean it up real quick," Trump said.
More: Trump orders National Guard into Washington and takes over DC police: Live updates
Trump did not elaborate on his plans for other cities. But one of the two executive actions he signed Aug. 11 directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to coordinate with governors of states and "authorize the orders of any additional members of the National Guard to active service, as he deems necessary and appropriate, to augment this mission."
"We're going to take back our capital," Trump said. "And then we'll look at other cities also. But other cities are studying what we're doing."
Trump warns cities to 'learn their lesson'
Each of the cities that Trump mentioned are led by Democratic mayors in states with Democratic governors, who could be less likely to request the Trump administration's intervention than Republican governors who are political allies of the president.
"Other cities are hopefully watching this.... And maybe they'll self-clean up," Trump said, adding they could be targeted if "they don't learn their lesson" and study his administration's moves in Washington. He said he plans to look at New York City next "and if we need to, we're going to do the same thing in Chicago."
More: Trump says he's looking at reclassifying marijuana at federal level
In a separate executive order, Trump invoked authority under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of Washington's police department. The move, authorized by federal law as part of the District of Columbia's unique status as a federal enclave, is not an option for Trump elsewhere.
Secretary of Army Daniel Driscoll is set to lead the National Guard's operation in Washington.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is also prepared to bring in additional National Guard units and other specialized units if needed. "They will be strong. They will be tough. And they will stand with their law enforcement partners," Hegseth said.
"This is nothing new for DOD," he added, pointing to Trump's deployment of military troops at the United States-Mexico border to crack down on illegal immigration.
Trump's authority to direct National Guard troops was challenged earlier this year after he tapped the California National Guard to quell protests over widespread deportations from increased immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area. After Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged Trump's control over the troops, a judge ruled in favor of Trump.
Trump reeled off a list of recent violent crimes in Washington, D.C. to justify his actions. Yet, volent crimes so far in 2025 are down 26% compared to last year, and homicides are down 12%, according to statistics compiled by the Metropolitian Police Department. Similarly, homicides in New York City are down in 2025 compared to the same time last year.
More: Trump says Washington needs National Guard protection. Police data says crime is down.
Mayors push back at Trump's threat
An FBI report released Aug. 5 found violent crime in 2024 dropped by 4.5% in the United States compared to 2023, with murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreasing by nearly 15%.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents about 1,400 mayors, responded to Trump's actions and threats by touting a "nationwide success story" of plummeting crime rates.
"Ultimately, the best public safety outcomes are delivered by local police departments and local officials, who know the communities," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, president of the mayors' conference, said in a statement. "America's mayors never see takeovers by other levels of government as a tactic that has any track record of producing results."
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, in response to Trump singling out his city, said "Baltimore is the safest it's been in over 50 years," adding that homicides are down about 28% in 2025.
"We still have real work to do to build on this progress," Scott said in a statement, "but that work starts and ends here in Baltimore, with the local, state, and federal partners who have gotten us this far."
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman of USA TODAY
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump puts other US cities on notice as he sends National Guard to DC
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