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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Trump deploys National Guard to tackle Washington crime
US President Donald Trump said Monday he will deploy military and federal law enforcement in Washington as he seeks to curb violent crime in the nation's capital. The Republican leader told a White House news conference he plans to place the DC Metropolitan Police under the direct control of the federal government while sending in the National Guard. The overwhelmingly Democratic city faces allegations from Republican politicians that it is overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness and financially mismanaged -- although violent offenses are down. "This is Liberation Day in DC, and we're going to take our capital back," Trump said. Trump -- a convicted felon who has pardoned around 1,500 people involved in the 2021 US Capitol riot in Washington -- has complained that local police and prosecutors aren't tough enough. He has repeatedly threatened a federal takeover of the city of 700,000, saying crime in Washington was "totally out of control." The new approach echoes Trump's immigration policies that have effectively sealed the southern border amid mass deportations while deploying active-duty troops against protesters in Los Angeles. The president told reporters he planned to roll out the policy to other cities, spotlighting problems in New York and Chicago. Unlike the 50 states, Washington operates under a unique relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters. Since the mid-1970s, the Home Rule Act has allowed residents to elect a mayor and a city council, although Congress still controls the city's budget. "There's absolutely no need for the National Guard here," Elizabeth Critchley, 62, said at a protest outside the White House. "It's all for show. It's just a big theater." Data from Washington police show significant drops in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, although that was coming off the back of a post-pandemic surge. - Crime is 'ending' - Trump posted on social media ahead of the news conference that he also wants to tackle homeless encampments, after signing an order last month making it easier to arrest homeless people. Trump ordered homeless people to "move out" of the city in a Truth Social post on Sunday, vowing to "make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before." He promised individuals "places to stay," but "FAR from the Capital." Trump said criminals would be jailed and that it would all happen "very fast." Federal law enforcement have already increased their presence after a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer was beaten during an attempted carjacking. "Last week my administration surged 500 federal agents into the district including from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, the US Marshals Service, the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security," Trump said. "You know a lot of nations, they don't have anything like that... They made dozens of arrests." A Gallup poll in October found that 64 percent of Americans believed crime had risen in 2024, although FBI data shows the lowest levels of violent crime nationwide in more than half a century. "Let me be crystal clear -- crime in DC is ending, and it's ending today," said Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was among several cabinet members flanking Trump. Trump called Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser a "good person who has tried" at the weekend but added that she had been given "many chances" to improve living standards. Bowser has not criticized Trump over his threats to stage a federal takeover, insisting instead that she plans to focus on their "shared priorities."
Daily Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
US politics live: Trump delivered another Epstein blow
Welcome to our coverage of US politics. A judge has refused the White House's request to unseal papers from the Grand Jury testimony of Jeffrey Epstein. It means the Epstein drama rolls on. Donald Trump is on Monday, US time, expected to take steps to 'federalise' Washington DC. To comes after the US president was sent into a rage after a former member of Elon Musk's 'Department of Government Efficiency' was allegedly car jacked and beaten in the coastal city. Washington, like Canberra, is under federal control. But also like the ACT, DC has been given a high degree of local control. Mr Trump looks sent to try and claw some of the back with suggestion he could put as many a 1000 National Guard troops into the capital. On the weekend, he also warned Washington's homeless population to 'leave immediately'. That's despite there being no suggestion a homeless person was involved in the alleged assault. Meanwhile, it's remain up I the air if Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky will be invited to a planned summit between the US and Russia on Friday which could decide the future of the nation he leads. And Mr Trump has hit out at a Nobel prize winning economist who questioned his tariffs. Read on for more updates. Originally published as US politics live: Trump delivered another Epstein blow
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
'How many children?' Israel's ambassador insists there is 'no starvation policy' in fiery interview
ABC host Sarah Ferguson has bluntly demanded Israel's ambassador to Australia disclose 'how many children' have died of starvation in Gaza as the Foreign Minister Penny Wong revealed she was 'haunted' by the images. Just hours after unleashing on Australia's decision to recognise the Palestinian state, Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon fronted up for an interview on 7:30. He was promptly taken to task over whether Israel was deliberately starving families in Gaza. 'Now, do you accept that Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to listen to both friends and allies about the conduct of Israel's war in Gaza, the unending killing and the starvation of civilians, has led to this decision by Australia and like-minded countries to recognise Palestine?,'' host Sarah Ferguson asked. 'Well, the Israeli government is determined to accomplish all the objectives that were set by the government right after October 7,'' Mr Maimon replied. 'The dismantling of the Hamas military and political capabilities, the removal of the threat that Hamas is posing towards our citizens along the southern border, and the immediate release of our hostages. 'Unfortunately, so far the Hamas ... is refusing the ceasefire proposal.' But the ABC host insisted she wanted to 'bring you back to my question' which was - whether or not Israel accepted that the refusal of the Israelis to listen to concerns about the way it has conducted the war had led to this decision by Australia to recognise Palestine. 'Do you accept the withholding of food and the starvation of civilians first of all is a crime under international law?,'' Sarah Ferguson asked. 'The government of Israel is not - is not - there is no starvation policy,'' Mr Maimon replied. 'That's not to say that we believe the condition on the ground are ideal. 'There are real challenges in recent two weeks, we're not responsible for the distribution. It's also very important to recognise the role of the Hamas - the negative role of Hamas - in preventing aid to reach all those needed Palestinians.' 'Do you accept 100 children in Gaza have died of starvation in recent months? Do you accept those statistics?,'' Sarah Ferguson responded. 'Let me pose this question. How many children do they say have died from starvation in recent months?' 'Well, I have no figures, but I can push back on the Israeli hostages that did not receive humanitarian aid since October 7, nor a visit from the - none of the organisations that are responsible to assist those who are in need,'' Mr Maimon replied. 'I can talk about the starvation of David, who was just released, and I don't hear much, you know, talk about him and about the very poor condition that he was held in. 'I am not also hearing any reports about the fact that he was forced to dig his own grave, he's not the first one.' The ABC host replied that the conditions the hostages are being held in, in Gaza, were 'repulsive and rejected by all decent-minded humans around the world.' 'But we're here to talk about decisions by the Israeli government at the moment,'' she said. 'Let me ask you a final question - as an ambassador, you are obliged in your position to maintain your government's position. In our own heart, do you believe the killing and starving of civilians in Gaza should stop?' 'Once again, there is no policy of starvation,'' the ambassador said. 'I feel very sad for any loss of innocent life. I lost two members of my family on October 7. Every child matters. Whether it's Israeli or Palestinian. 'And it is very sad. It's a tragedy. But it's also important to remember that the Hamas bears the responsibility, the Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. 'It's a war we didn't ask for, nor we started. It's a war we want to end. 'But we'll end it only when our security will be granted, when the hostages will be back, and when the Hamas will not play any role in the Gaza Strip. 'I'm a father, a grandparent, exactly as I'm moved by terrible photos of David, and moving photos of Palestinian children and others,'' he said. 'May I offer my condolences, the condolences of the program for the condolences of the program for the loss you suffered. Thank you for joining us, ambassador,'' Ferguson replied. Earlier, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has declared she was 'haunted' by the images of starving children in Gaza as she outlined the reasons for Australia's decision to officially recognise the Palestinian state. Despite international controversy over some of the images of starving children in Gaza, with Israel insisting some of the children have underlying health conditions, Senator Wong said. 'We all are haunted by the images that we have seen,'' Senator Wong told 7:30. 'Both of the horrors of October 7, and by what has occurred since, the deprivation, the deaths of so many innocent people and we are compelled to act by the circumstances. 'The world watched in horror the attacks by Hamas on October 7. 'And the world has watched in horror since as tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians are killed, thousands starving. 'The faces of children we cannot forget. 'Australians, people around the world, have been haunted by the images.'
