Trump Seizes Control of Washington Police, Deploys National Guard

President Donald Trump declared a false "public safety emergency" to federalize Washington, D.C.'s police forces, deploying FBI agents and the National Guard under Attorney General Pam Bondi's command, citing alleged rampant crime despite the city's low crime rates. Trump announced intentions for aggressive police responses to civilians, including pardoning rioters who previously assaulted law enforcement. This unprecedented move has sparked widespread opposition and protests in Washington, with residents organizing demonstrations expressing fears of authoritarianism and criticism that the action serves as a distraction from Trump's poor poll ratings. Supporters of the president's decision have also emerged, highlighting the divisive nature of the federal takeover. The situation in D.C. is seen as a blueprint for Trump's approach to other primarily Democratic cities. Media coverage emphasizes the historic nature of this federal intervention in the nation's capital police authority.