Trump announced that he will federalize the Washington, D.C., police and deploy National Guard troops as part of a plan to combat crime in the nation’s capital. Speaking at a White House news conference, the president called the initiative “Liberation Day in D.C.” and vowed to “take our capital back.” The move follows days of increased federal law enforcement presence across the city.
During the briefing, Trump expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for pushing back on a potential land swap with Russia as part of peace negotiations. “I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying, ‘I have to get constitutional approval.’ I mean, he’s got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? Because there’ll be some land swapping going on,” Trump said, calling the situation “very complex” due to uneven territorial lines.
Trump also confirmed that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang agreed to give the U.S. government a 15% share of revenue from sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chip to China in exchange for an export license. Trump said he initially demanded 20% but settled on 15%, adding that sales of Nvidia’s advanced Blackwell chip to China remain blocked for now.
On Ukraine, Trump noted that Zelenskyy was not invited to his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said he expects to know within minutes of that meeting whether a deal is possible. Trump emphasized his goal to “beautify” Washington, saying the capital’s condition leaves a poor impression on international visitors. He cited his father’s advice that a dirty entrance signals deeper problems, applying the analogy to the city.
In March, Trump signed a funding bill that reduced D.C.’s budget by about $1 billion, capping spending at 2024 levels. Efforts to restore the funds have passed the Senate but not the House. He suggested that his crime and beautification strategies could be extended to other Democratic-run cities, specifically naming Chicago.
Trump said his administration is reviewing whether to reclassify marijuana, calling the topic “very complicated,” and is considering replacing D.C.-area judges he claims are too lenient on crime. He stated that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has provided recommendations for new appointees.
Under the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the president can federalize D.C.’s police for up to 48 hours without notifying Congress and for a maximum of 30 days without congressional approval. Trump said he will use this authority, citing “special conditions of an emergency nature.” He also announced plans to remove homeless encampments from public spaces, saying some occupants are from “different countries” and that the capital should not be “a wasteland for the world to see.”
If necessary, Trump said he would bring in the military, in addition to the National Guard, to support law enforcement operations targeting gangs, drug dealers, and other criminal networks. He pledged to repair infrastructure, replace medians, fix potholes, and resurface roads quickly without lengthy rebuilds.
Trump also called for changes to D.C.’s no cash bail policy, blaming it for allowing violent offenders to be released quickly. He said Republicans in Congress would be needed to pass such reforms and reiterated that Democrats are “weak on crime.”
Standing with senior officials, Trump referenced recent violent incidents in the city, including an attempted carjacking of Edward Coristine, a Department of Government Efficiency employee, and the fatal shooting of a congressional intern. He vowed to eliminate slums and improve safety.
Homicide numbers in D.C. reached 274 in 2023, the highest since the mid-1990s, according to police data. Trump said violent crime is down 26% this year but maintained that further action is necessary.
The White House has recently increased federal law enforcement deployment, with 450 officers stationed across the city over the weekend. Eighteen agencies participated in the operation, making arrests for offenses ranging from unlicensed firearm possession to illegal dirt bike riding. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington will be “safe and beautiful again” under Trump’s leadership.
Mayor Muriel Bowser disputed Trump’s portrayal of crime trends, stating rates have declined over the past two years. She criticized comparisons to war zones as false and questioned the efficiency of using the National Guard for local law enforcement. Bowser said Trump’s actions appear aimed at showing force rather than addressing an actual crime spike.
Ahead of the press conference, Trump posted a warning on social media for the homeless to leave the city “immediately,” promising relocation “far from the capital.” He warned criminals they would be imprisoned and likened his plans to his administration’s border enforcement measures. Trump said his upcoming initiatives will focus on ending crime and improving the physical condition of Washington, reflecting his long-standing desire to take direct control of the city.
