Trump Seizes Control of DC: Soldiers on Display – DW News
The president of USA, Donald Trumphe acknowledged this Thursday (14.08.2025) that he has not followed the rules “to the letter” to display the National Guard in Washington DC and assume federal control of the Metropolitan Police of the US capital.
The city lives hours of tension for protests against night operations of federal agencies such as the Department of National Security (DHS).
The president said that when he has let the Democratic leaders of each state handle the protests, they “have not acted properly.”
“The last time I followed every small edict and rule perfectly, I let the governors administer their affairs and completely ruined it,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News Radio, in reference to previous crises.
Declared a public security emergency
The statements occur after the deployment of 800 members of the National Guard in Washington DC and the temporary federalization of its police, a measure that Trump imposed last Monday by considering that “the crime is out of control.”
In addition, the Republican declared a 30 -day public security emergency.
Trump took advantage of the attack suffered at the beginning of the month by a programmer from the Government Efficiency Department (Doge), called Edward Coristine, to justify the federalization of public security of the city.
However, homicidal crime indices, although still high, are the lowest in decades, according to official data.
Increasing federal DC presence
From Wednesday night, FBI agents, DEA and the Immigration and Customs Control Service (ICE) intensified their patrols in Washington DC, with 24 -hour shifts and control points in different areas of the city.
On the National Esplanade, armored vehicles and National Guard troops were observed to deal with what Trump qualifies as a “wave of crimes”, against what local authorities point out.
As explained by the White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, in Fox News, is a multi -management working group created by Trump together with the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
In total, 19 agencies participated in joint operations in seven districts of the capital during the night.
Arrested 29 immigrants
The actions were 45 arrests for crimes of aggression in the first and second degree, as well as for distribution of illegal and narcotic drugs seized. In addition, 29 undocumented immigrants were arrested, “many of which had final deportation orders,” Leavitt said.
Trump was asked in the Oval Office about the damages that the high concentration of agents in the capital could be causing in other operations, on the other hand, he replied that he is using “a very small force.”
At night, agents installed a traffic control in one of the main streets of the city where they arrested drivers for not carrying the seat belt or for problems in the rear lights.
The city’s neighbors protested against this control and warned the drivers to avoid it.
Tense atmosphere in the city
Despite the massive presence of security forces, the environment was tense and several clashes between residents and federal agents were reported.
A former employee of the Department of Justice was arrested Wednesday night for hitting a federal agent with a sandwich. The attorney general, Pam Bondi, indicated that charges will be raised by aggression.
For her part, the police officer, Pamela Smith issued an executive order this Thursday so that Washington DC’s police limit the type of cooperation they do with ICE.
Smith seeks to prevent people from being questioned about their immigration status or that people are arrested without the existence of an order issued by a judge.
This is an attempt to maintain the laws of the Columbia district, where the Democrats govern, in force.
On Wednesday, Trump said he will seek to extend federal control over order forces in the capital after considering that the 30 days stipulated in the law “are not enough” to “combat crime” in the city.
JC (AFP, EFE)