US President Donald Trump on Saturday declared that Washington, DC had been transformed into a “totally different place” compared to last year, crediting his administration’s crime crackdown and federal takeover of policing for the improvement.
“Just toured Washington, D.C., and it is a totally different place than it was last year. No tents, manicured grass and parks, clean streets, no gangs or vicious criminals — THE PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE, and it is going to remain that way! What a difference good government makes! Go to D.C. and enjoy history being made!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
His remarks came days after the national emergency he declared in August expired, which had allowed the deployment of National Guard troops and additional federal officers in the capital.
Despite touting progress, Trump warned that he would again declare a national emergency if the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) refuses to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. “If I allowed this to happen, CRIME would come roaring back,” he cautioned, vowing not to let the city “fall back into chaos.”
The warning followed Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s directive earlier this month that city agencies would continue cooperating with federal law enforcement but not with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Bowser reiterated that immigration enforcement is “not what MPD does” and that the city would return to normal policing now that the federal emergency has ended.
Trump blasted Bowser’s stance, accusing her of presiding over years of violent crime and insisting he would not hesitate to re-federalize DC policing.
While crime reports have declined under the federal surge, fact-checkers note that Trump’s claim of “no crime” is inaccurate. His latest remarks also mark a shift from earlier weeks, when he had praised Bowser’s cooperation with federal agencies.
Critics have condemned Trump’s repeated use of emergency powers in Democratic-led cities as an “unprecedented power grab,” while supporters argue the measures are necessary to restore law and order.