NEW YORK (WRGB) — President Donald Trump is standing firm on his decision to implement a federal takeover of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and has announced that his administration will pursue the death penalty for any murders committed in the city. Over 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in the capital, and the President is considering extending their mission beyond 30 days, a move that would require congressional approval.
Trump declared that the nation’s capital will become “the safest place on earth” and expressed his hope that other states, including New York, would seek his assistance.
I hope that Illinois, I hope that New York, I hope that California, I hope they call me and they say ‘I’d love to have you come in and help us out.’ I will be a totally different person with them. I will respect them for doing it,” he said.
In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a vocal critic of President Trump since his return to office, has rejected the idea of a federal intervention in her state.
When we say we’ve got this, Mr. President, and he would do this anywhere here or in Chicago or Washington, um, just to show a brazen abuse of power and brazen force, there’s no reason for them to come here,” Gov. Hochul said. “But I know where to find them if I need them.