President Trump Deploys Federal Agents to Washington D.C., Citing Crime Surge
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of federal law enforcement agents to Washington D.C., citing a need to address what he described as a "ridiculous" crime rate and a lack of safety. The decision follows a recent assault on a former government staffer in the city.
In a statement, the White House confirmed that the deployment, which began on August 8, will involve officers from a range of federal agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The operation will focus on "high-traffic tourist areas and other known hotspots."
Speaking to the press, President Trump did not specify the number of agents to be deployed but did not rule out taking federal control of the city's police force. He also mentioned the possibility of deploying the National Guard and indicated that his legal team is exploring options to overturn the D.C. Home Rule Act.
"We want to have a great safe capital," Trump said. "We have a capital that's very unsafe... we're going to beautify the city, we're going to make it beautiful, and what a shame the rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings, and everything else. We're not going to let it."
The President also addressed several other topics, including:
Tariffs on India: He confirmed that India is currently paying a 50% tariff and hinted at the possibility of more sanctions, while also suggesting that similar tariffs could be applied to China.
Made-in-USA iPhones: Responding to a question about his desire for Apple to manufacture all its products in the U.S., the President stated that while many components are already produced domestically, he may offer incentives to persuade the company to move final assembly to the United States.
mRNA Vaccine Funding: He said his administration is "going to look at" the decision by his Health Secretary to pull funding for mRNA vaccine research, a move he said was at odds with the medical community. Trump praised Operation Warp Speed as "one of the most incredible things ever done" but noted that the administration is now "on to other things."
