Trump Threatens D.C. Federalization After Teen Attacked

Former President Donald Trump has threatened to federalize Washington, D.C., after Edward Coristine, a teenager and former DOGE employee known as 'Big Balls,' was violently attacked while intervening to protect a woman in northwest D.C. Trump criticized city officials for their handling of youth crime and urged that offenders as young as 14 be prosecuted as adults, sharing photos of Coristine’s injuries and warning of federal intervention if local laws do not change. The incident has sparked political debate, with some Democratic leaders accusing Trump of inciting further political violence. Former DOGE head Elon Musk supported federalization and described the attack on social media. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb stated that cases with sufficient evidence are prosecuted and that violent juvenile offenders face legal consequences. The attack and subsequent threats have intensified scrutiny of crime and governance in the nation’s capital.