By Michelle Ndaga
President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to remove homeless people from the nation’s capital and jail offenders, despite Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser insisting the city is not experiencing a current crime surge.
While details of the plan remain unclear, a U.S. official told Reuters the administration is preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the city a move Trump has used in other cities despite pushback from local leaders. In D.C., unlike in U.S. states, the president has direct control over the Guard.
“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on Truth Social, promising relocation “far from the Capital,” and pledging to jail criminals. The White House has not clarified the legal authority he would use to carry out the evictions.
Trump’s remarks come as city data shows violent crime down 26% and overall crime down 7% in the first seven months of 2025. Bowser, a Democrat, said the capital has reached a 30 year low in violent crime, crediting cooperation with federal law enforcement.
A decision on troop deployment has not been finalized, but 450 federal officers were deployed Saturday following a recent attack on a White House staffer. Trump is expected to hold a press conference Monday to address crime and public safety in D.C.
