Trump on deploying the National Guard in Washington

2025-08-12 08:48:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US President Trump justifies the planned deployment of the National Guard in Washington with the high crime rate, which he says is higher than in crime strongholds in Latin America.

"I will deploy the National Guard to restore law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C.," Trump said in the presence of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Citing the rampant increase in crime in Washington, US President Donald Trump is deploying the National Guard to the capital. The city's police force will be placed under federal control, Trump said. Initially, 800 National Guardsmen will be deployed, with more forces being mobilized if necessary. The goal is to restore public safety.

Trump called for a "day of liberation" for the US capital. He will save Washington from "crime, bloodshed, chaos and evil," Trump said.

Inciting public opinion against the homeless and criminals

There is no evidence for Trump's claims that the situation is "out of control" - a look at crime statistics shows that there is a decrease in the number of crimes.

According to local police, the number of violent crimes since the beginning of August this year has decreased by a quarter compared to a year earlier. The total number of crimes has decreased by seven percent.

The number of recorded crimes also decreased between 2023 and 2024. The District of Columbia District Attorney's Office reports that 2024 had the lowest number of violent crimes in 30 years. Washington has about 700,000 residents and a special status, being a stronghold of the Democratic Party.

For weeks, Trump has been stirring up public opinion against the homeless and criminals in the capital. On the eve of this decision, he announced an initiative against these.

"The homeless must leave, immediately," he writes on his Truth Social platform. He also posted photos of homeless tents and litter on the sides of the roads. "We will offer you shelter, but far from the capital." According to him, the city must become safer and more beautiful than ever before. He will take criminals to prison.

The National Guard is part of the US military.

Trump ordered the mobilization of the Army Guard and Marines even during the immigration riots in Los Angeles,

Meanwhile, these forces have been withdrawn from the city. But the case has gone to court regarding the legitimacy and proportion of such mobilization. The National Guard is part of a reserve unit of the US army. Normally, the federal states have their own control over the National Guard. In cases of national emergency, the US president can take command. The National Guard can be engaged in cases of natural disasters, riots or emergencies. The US has a total of over 325,000 National Guardsmen, according to previous data./ DW