U.S. President Donald Trump said he will directly patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., alongside police and the National Guard on the 21st (local time). This unexpected declaration comes ten days after the federal government began to control security in Washington. Amid cold local public opinion against the federal government's coercive security intervention, the president's unusual participation in the patrol is interpreted as a political move to showcase security enhancement achievements and break through opposing opinions.
During an interview with conservative radio host Todd Starnes, President Trump said, "Tonight, I will go out with the police, and of course, the military." He added, "We will carry out our mission." The White House did not immediately provide specific plans regarding the time, location, or manner of the patrol. The president's public activities require thorough advance planning and the highest level of security. The New York Times (NYT) reported that this surprise announcement was made so suddenly that even the security team was bewildered.
Earlier, on the 11th, President Trump declared a "public safety emergency" in Washington, D.C., and launched a crackdown on crime involving local police and federal law enforcement agencies led by the Department of Justice. Due to Washington, D.C., being a federally governed district, the president can exercise command authority over local police for 30 days in emergencies. Accordingly, federal agents and the National Guard were deployed to major areas in the city, such as near the White House and Union Station.
President Trump claims that this measure has had an immediate effect. In a radio interview, he stated, "I corrected crime in Washington, D.C., in just four days," adding, "People are going back to restaurants without worrying about robberies. Everyone is happy." However, contrary to his claims, local media reported that restaurant reservations have actually dropped by nearly one-third since the deployment of federal troops.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and other city officials countered that violent crime had been steadily decreasing even before the federal government's intervention, reaching its lowest level in 30 years. The Trump administration's security intervention is facing strong backlash from residents. According to a Washington Post (WP) poll, 79% of Washington residents opposed the federal government's control over police powers.
The day before, when Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the National Guard stationed at Union Station to encourage them, citizens jeered and shouted insults in protest. In this situation, President Trump's decision to patrol himself is analyzed as a move to justify his security policy and expand federal government intervention into other cities strong with Democrats, according to the political news outlet Axios.