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Trump Cites D.C. Crackdown As “Test Case” Tells New York, Chicago, Baltimore To ‘Learn Their Lesson’

Trump Expands Crime Crackdown, Vows to Bring Federal Force to Other Cities

President Donald Trump announced Monday a major federal intervention in Washington, D.C., and warned that similar crackdowns could be coming to other major American cities. Speaking from a Monday news conference, the President revealed plans to send 800 National Guard troops into the nation’s capital and invoked his authority under the Home Rule Act to take control of the city’s police department.

Trump framed the move as a necessary response to rising crime, stating, “We’re not going to lose our cities over this. This will go further. We’re starting very strongly with D.C., and we’re going to clean it up real quick.”

He specifically named New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago, and Oakland as potential future targets for federal intervention, a move that would drastically increase the federal government’s presence in local law enforcement matters.

The President’s actions in Washington were bolstered by two executive orders signed Monday. One directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to coordinate with state governors to activate additional National Guard members “as he deems necessary and appropriate.”

The second order grants the President direct control over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, a power authorized by federal law due to the District’s unique status. This specific authority, however, cannot be extended to other cities.

In a direct message to city leaders, President Trump warned that other cities should “learn their lesson” from the actions taken in D.C. He suggested that if they don’t “self-clean up,” they could face a similar federal presence.

“We’re going to take back our capital,” Trump said. “And then we’ll look at other cities also. But other cities are studying what we’re doing.” He later added he would look at New York City next, and then Chicago, “if we need to.”

The cities mentioned by the President are all led by Democratic mayors in states with Democratic governors, who could be less inclined to welcome federal intervention.

The President’s authority to deploy the National Guard has been legally challenged before; earlier this year, a judge ruled in favor of the President after California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged his control over the state’s National Guard troops during a crackdown on immigration-related protests in Los Angeles.

Defense Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll, who will lead the National Guard operation in Washington, both expressed their support for the President’s actions.

Hegseth said the Pentagon is prepared to bring in additional units if needed, emphasizing that the troops “will be strong. They will be tough. And they will stand with their law enforcement partners.” He likened the new initiative to the administration’s prior use of military troops at the U.S.-Mexico border.

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