Latest news with #publicsafetyemergency
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Three Republican-led states to send National Guard troops to DC
Three Republican-led US states will send members of their National Guard forces to Washington, DC to bolster the roughly 800 troops President Donald Trump has already deployed to the Virginia Governor Parick Morrisey said he would send 300-400 of the state's National Guard troops at Trump's request. South Carolina will send 200 troops, and Ohio will send 150 military police from their National Guard, their governors declared a "public safety emergency" on Monday, claiming the nation's capitol was gripped by "complete and total lawlessness."Washington DC's elected officials have objected these claims, and hundreds of DC residents marched in protest on Saturday. Agents from several federal law enforcement agencies have spent the week patrolling Washington's most populous and touristed areas alongside the National Guard in Washington DC, where 92% of residents voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, have expressed frustration with Trump's enforcement have taken to filming federal officers as they patrol and over the weekend, the frustration expanded into peaceful protests against the congregated in Dupont Circle, a central hub in the city, and marched through the streets chanting "Free DC!" Some banged drums and rang bells as they in Washington, DC have expressed concerns about crime in surveys, and a former employee of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was attacked and beaten in the city has painted a portrait of the nation's capital as beset by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals."But Mayor Muriel Bowser has rejected Trump's claims about rampant crime in the city. She acknowledged there had been a spike in crime in 2023 that has since dropped Police Department (MPD) data shows homicides dropped by 32% between 2023 and 2024 and reached their lowest level since data shows violent crime overall is down 26% so far in 2025, compared to the same point in 2024, according to MPD data. Robbery is down 28%, BBC Verify Trump administration initially tried to take command of the city's Metropolitan Police Department using the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, but rescinded the order after city officials took them to Judge Ana Reyes said that Mayor Bowser was required to follow White House directives.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Leavitt, 27, Scrambles to Justify 79-Year-Old Trump's Senior Moment
No one at the White House quite knows how to spin President Donald Trump's recent and increasingly frequent string of senior moments — least of all White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27. After declaring a 'public safety emergency' to deploy troops against street crime in Washington, D.C., Monday, the 79-year-old president inexplicably told reporters—twice—that he was 'going to Russia on Friday.' In reality, Trump's upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin isn't in Russia. It's in Alaska. He later corrected himself, clarifying that he would not be leaving the U.S. for the summit. But even after Trump's own concession, Leavitt refused to acknowledge the blunder. In fact, she took it one step further, floating the idea that Trump may soon become the first U.S. president to visit Russia in 12 years. 'Perhaps there are plans in the future to travel to Russia,' the 27-year-old press secretary told reporters Tuesday, when pressed on Trump's comments. This was just one in a string of recent verbal fumbles by Trump that have raised eyebrows. Last week, during a White House event with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump appeared to forget who was standing right behind him. 'I'd like to welcome to the White House one of the great and most esteemed business leaders and geniuses and innovators anywhere in the world, Apple CEO Tim Cook,' Trump began. 'Thanks as well to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for being here, wherever you may be.' Lutnick, who had been standing directly behind the president the entire time, piped up: 'I'm right behind you.' 'Oh hey, fellas,' Trump said, briefly startled. 'I missed you.' While introducing members of his Cabinet during the signing of an executive order related to the 2028 Summer Olympics, Trump referred to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem—who was standing just feet away—as 'Cristie Kerr,' the name of a professional golfer. And on July 31, while flanked by GOP Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Mike Bost at a veterans' bill signing, Trump paused mid-sentence and asked: 'Where's Derrick? Derrick?' Van Orden was standing directly next to him. 'Right here,' the congressman said. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
