Donald Trump means business. He isn’t going to let this city get away with their negligence.
And a major American city has been hit with a warning from President Trump that has them sounding the alarm.
Rising Crime in Washington, DC Fuels Debate Over Federal Intervention
President Donald Trump issued a warning on Tuesday, threatening to place Washington, DC under federal control if the city fails to curb its surging crime rates. In a passionate post on Truth Social, Trump painted a grim picture of the nation’s capital, where violent acts by young offenders are creating fear among residents.
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released,” Trump declared.
He called on city officials to crack down by charging minors as adults for violent crimes starting at age 14 and imposing lengthy sentences. “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together,” he warned, “we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City.”
To drive home his point, Trump shared a striking image of a young man, blood dripping down his face, reportedly attacked by a group of teenagers. The incident reflects a growing unease among DC residents, who often feel unsafe on the metro and city streets, wary of groups of teens engaging in threatening behavior or criminal acts.
A recent assault near downtown DC has further spotlighted the issue. According to a Metropolitan Police Department report, Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee known on LinkedIn as “Big B*lls,” stepped in to protect a woman from a group of young people who made “a comment about taking the vehicle.”
After ensuring the woman’s safety by pushing her into the car, Coristine was attacked by the group. Police arrived during the assault and arrested two youths. Elon Musk, a former Trump ally, highlighted the incident on X.
DC’s juvenile arrest rate is almost twice as much as the national average, with an average of 2,235 bookings a year from 2016 to 2022.
The city is witnessing a disturbing trend of young individuals, some as young as nine or ten, participating in serious crimes like carjackings, according to District At-Large Councilmember Robert White Jr. during a February 2024 town hall.
To address the issue, Mayor Muriel Bowser introduced an 11 p.m. curfew for individuals under 18, with some areas enforcing restrictions that start at 7 p.m.
Trump first raised the prospect of federal intervention in February, telling reporters on Air Force One, “I think we should take over Washington, DC — make it safe,” citing the need to tackle crime and homelessness. While the 1973 Home Rule Act grants DC the ability to elect its mayor and city council, Congress retains significant authority over the city.
In 2023, Congress, with approval from then-President Joe Biden, blocked a proposed revision to DC’s criminal code that would have reduced penalties for violent crimes like carjacking and armed robbery.
Trump’s concerns extend beyond DC. He has issued similar warnings about New York City, suggesting federal action if democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral election this November.
“If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same,” he told the New York Post during a recent cabinet meeting, emphasizing the White House’s authority to intervene in struggling cities.
In July, President Trump signed an executive order pushing states and cities to place homeless individuals with drug addiction or mental health issues into “treatment centers.”
As Washington, DC confronts rising crime and public safety challenges, the tension between local governance and potential federal oversight continues to grow, with Trump signaling his readiness to act if the city cannot restore order.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
