Trump declared a public safety emergency on Monday, according to the Associated Press. The president took control of Washington’s police department and activated 800 National Guard members, citing the need to reduce crime. Trump’s takeover of public safety in Washington marks an escalation of his aggressive law enforcement approach, leveraging D.C.’s federal status without addressing crime’s root causes. He said Attorney General Pam Bondi will take charge of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department and criticized the city’s potholes and graffiti. He gave no timeline for the takeover, which is capped at 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. City officials rejected his depiction of the district as crime-ridden, noting violent crime is at 30-year lows and down 26% this year.
