Trump: Federalize D.C. and prosecute teens as adults
Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Washington, D.C., would become a federal district and prosecute teens as adults if crime in the nation's capital does not recede soon, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.
Youths and gangs in the capital are randomly targeting people for violent crimes due to a lack of law enforcement, Trump said in a Truth Social post.
"Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control," Trump said.
"Local 'youths' and gang members ... are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming and shooting innocent citizens," he added, "at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released."
He said local youths do not fear law enforcement "because they know nothing ever happens to them."
Trump's post includes a photo of a young male who is bloodied and sitting on what appears to be an asphalt parking lot.
"The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by thugs," Trump said. "Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the world to see."
He said the federal government would have no choice but to take control of the capital and "put criminals on notice."
"Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago," Trump added, "and then this incredible young man, with so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of violent crime."
Trump did not reference the recent shooting deaths of a House intern or two Israel Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C.
Despite such shooting deaths and other crimes in the nation's capital, local police reported a 35% reduction in crime in 2024, which set a 30-year low, The Hill reported.
So far this year, reported crimes in Washington, D.C., are lower than in 2024, which would establish a new 30-year low if the trend continues.
Trump and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser have met several times since the Nov. 5 election.
The president has said he and the mayor have an amicable relationship, and in a March 28 executive order, created the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
That task force includes representatives from several federal agencies and federal law enforcement, who are tasked with cleaning up the city by working with local officials.
Such efforts are to include removing homeless encampments, supporting law enforcement, removing threats to public safety and streamlining the process for residents to obtain concealed carry permits for firearms.
Parks, monuments, structures, roadways and buildings are to be beautified by being restored and graffiti removed from commonly visited local areas, according to the executive order.
The Washington, D.C., mayor's office did not respond to a UPI request for comment on Tuesday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
a few seconds ago
- Epoch Times
What to Know About India's Purchases of Russian Oil
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Aug. 6, raising the tariff rate on Indian goods entering the United States to 50 percent. Trump pointed to India's continued purchases of Russian crude oil as justification for the significant increase in levies on the nation's exports.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Apple set to dodge bulk of India tariffs
Apple (AAPL) is set to largely escape the Trump administration's upcoming promise of 50% tariff on goods made in India destined for the US. A White House official confirmed Wednesday that Apple's semiconductor-powered devices, which include its iPhone, will be unaffected by Trump's 25% 'reciprocal' tariffs set to go into effect Thursday. The same goes for an upcoming promise of an additional 25% levy related to India's use of Russian oil that is set to be in place in about 3 weeks' time. IPhones and other similar products will be subject to a separate tariff authority which has not yet been unveiled. Apple said during its most recent earnings call that it made the majority of its US-bound iPhones in India. The news comes after The White House announced that Apple will announce an additional $100 billion investment in US manufacturing during a 4:30 pm ET press event Wednesday. That's in addition to the $500 billion Apple said earlier this year it would invest in the country. Trump has criticized Apple's decision to move manufacturing from China to India and not the US, saying during his May trip to the Middle East that he had a 'little problem' with CEO Tim Cook. Other Trump administration officials have also lambasted Apple for not producing its phones in the US, with trade adviser Peter Navarro calling it the 'longest-running soap opera in Silicon Valley,' during a July interview with CNBC. But according to experts, it would take years for Apple to stand up a smartphone supply chain base in the US. What's more, there are no phone manufacturers in the country and not enough workers to fill the necessary roles. Todd Weaver, developer of Purism's Liberty Phone, a privacy-centric smartphone that uses US-built electronics, says it took his company years to set up the facilities and source the necessary components to ensure the phone's processing and communications features all come from America. Even so, he explained, the phone's body is still made overseas. Apple began expanding its supply chain beyond China following the lockdowns and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But it started specifically concentrating US iPhone manufacturing in India to avoid Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods. Apple hasn't been entirely immune from the impact of tariffs, though. In Q3, the company said it took an $800 million hit from Trump's levies and it expects an additional $1.1 billion in charges in the fourth quarter. While Apple might be able to dodge tariffs on goods out of India, the company isn't entirely out of the woods. The Trump administration is expected to unveil the results of its Section 232 investigation into semiconductor tariffs, which could impact everything from smartphones to automobiles. The exact timing for the tariff announcement is still up in the air, but Trump has said he could reveal them as soon as next week. Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@ Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Library of Congress Website Deleted Part of the Constitution That Trump Doesn't Like. Now They're Calling It a 'Coding Error'
The removed portions of the Constitution include clauses that limit Congress' power to suspend habeas corpus and forbid titles of nobility in the United StatesNEED TO KNOW Portions of the Constitution were deleted from the Library of Congress' website after President Donald Trump ousted the longtime librarian from her role in May The omitted portions of Article I cover limitations on Congress' ability to suspend habeas corpus and grant titles of nobility After internet users noticed the quiet omission, the Library of Congress claimed it was a "coding error"The Library of Congress removed two and a half sections of the Constitution from its website sometime after President Donald Trump ousted the library's longtime leader in May. In recent days, internet users noticed that portions of Article 1 were missing from the Library of Congress' Constitution Annotated website: Sections 9 and 10, and part of Section 8. Article 1 appeared on the site in full at the start of the summer, according to internet archives. On Aug. 6, the Library of Congress insisted that deletion of several clauses in Article 1 were the result of a website "coding error" and ensured the issue would be resolved in a timely manner. But despite the library's statement, some have continued to express suspicion given the timing of the removal and the specific clauses that were cut. Article 1 of the Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government and details the various powers of Congress. Section 9, which focuses on the limitations of Congress' authority, notably includes a clause that Congress cannot suspend habeas corpus — which grants everyone in custody the right to challenge their detention in court — unless necessary for safety in moments of "rebellion or invasion." Trump's White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters in May that the administration is "actively looking at" suspending habeas corpus, per PBS, amid the government's mass detention and deportation of immigrants. Without habeas corpus, Trump's aggressive deportation program would have fewer roadblocks and move more quickly. Another constitutional clause that was removed from the Library of Congress' website included a line that bars Congress from offering Americans titles of nobility — a limitation that sought to safeguard the United States government from being influenced by European monarchies. During his second term starting in January, Trump has repeatedly referred to himself as a "king" multiple times, including through the White House's official social media. Trump's flirtation with the title inspired the sweeping "No Kings" protests on June 14 — Trump's 79th birthday — in opposition to his perceived abuse and wielding of government power. Meanwhile Section 10 of Article 1, which was also removed, restricts U.S. states from engaging in certain actions that could undermine the federal government's authority. The update to the Library of Congress' digital Constitution came shortly after Trump fired the longtime Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, in May. Hayden was appointed to a 10-year term in the role by former President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate in a 74-18 vote in 2016. At present, it's disputed who is serving as the acting Librarian of Congress. Following the removal of Hayden, Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — his former criminal attorney — to the post, though the library staff chose to recognize Robert Newlen, who was functionally next in line for the job, as their new leader. Read the original article on People
