US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. <\/p>\n
Aaron Schwartz | Bloomberg | Getty Images<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald\u00a0Trump\u00a0said on Monday he would call a\u00a0national\u00a0emergency\u00a0and federalize\u00a0Washington, D.C. after Mayor Muriel Bowser said its police\u00a0would not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n
At issue is the provision of information on individuals living in, or entering, the United States illegally.\u00a0Trump’s threat adds to a move critics have seen as federal\u00a0overreach, with more than 2,000 troops patrolling the city.<\/p>\n
The comments come after several thousand protesters\u00a0hit the streets\u00a0this month\u00a0over\u00a0Trump’s August deployment of\u00a0National\u00a0Guard troops to “re-establish law, order, and public safety,” after calling crime a blight on the capital.<\/p>\n
“In just a few weeks. The “place” is absolutely booming… for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME,”\u00a0Trump\u00a0said on Truth Social.<\/p>\n
Bowser’s office\u00a0did not immediately respond to a request for comment on\u00a0Trump’s post.<\/p>\n
Earlier he had put the metropolitan police\u00a0department under direct federal control and sent federal law enforcement, including members of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to police\u00a0the streets. It is unclear when their mission will end.<\/p>\n
Trump\u00a0blamed “Radical Left Democrats” for pressuring Bowser to inform the government about the non-cooperation with\u00a0ICE, adding that if the police\u00a0halted cooperation with\u00a0ICE, “Crime would come roaring back.”<\/p>\n
He added, “To the people and businesses of\u00a0Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a\u00a0National\u00a0Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!”<\/p>\n