US National Guard troops and federal agents have appeared on the streets of Washington DC after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment, asserting that violent crime in the capital is out of control and placing the city’s police force under federal command.
Armoured vehicles were seen at urban centres and tourist spots on Tuesday evening. Officials said 800 National Guard troops and 500 federal law enforcement agents are expected to be deployed, reports BBC.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, rejected Trump’s claim that crime is spiralling, calling the move an “authoritarian push.” The president has threatened similar actions in New York and Chicago, both run by Democrats.
The camouflaged troops have been arriving since Monday, erecting barricades outside government buildings and taking photos with tourists. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said 23 people were arrested on Monday night for crimes including homicide, gun offences, drug dealing, lewd acts, stalking and reckless driving. FBI Director Kash Patel said federal agents were involved in about half the arrests.
Bowser met US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday and later said she wanted to make the most of the federal officers already present. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the increased presence would help get illegal guns off the streets. But at a town hall meeting, Bowser urged residents to defend the city’s autonomy and vote for a Democratic House to counter Trump’s “authoritarian push.”
The deployments come amid a manhunt for a suspect who shot and killed a man in Logan Circle on Monday night, marking Washington DC’s 100th homicide this year. The shooting, just a mile from the White House, prompted heightened security by the US Secret Service.
According to Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police, violent crime peaked in 2023 and dropped 35 per cent last year to a three-decade low, a claim disputed by the DC Police Union, which has accused the department of falsifying figures.
While FBI data shows a 9 per cent drop in crime in Washington DC last year, studies indicate the capital’s homicide rate remains higher than the average for major US cities.