WASHINGTON — President Trump announced a historic escalation of law enforcement in DC on Monday, deploying both the National Guard to patrol the streets and placing the city’s police department under federal control.
“We’re going to clean it up real quick,” Trump told reporters at the White House, noting the high crime rate in the city and the recent attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer by 10 teens Aug. 3.
The president has direct control over DC’s National Guard, unlike every other unit, which is under the authority of state governors.
Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, Trump has the authority to use the DC Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes for 30 days.
“It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness, and we get rid of the slums too,” Trump went on.
“We have slums here. We get rid of them. I know it’s not politically correct. You’ll say, ‘Oh, so terrible.’ No. We get rid of the slums where they live, caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets at all times of the day.”
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