United States President Donald Trump has seized control of the Washington DC police and deployed 800 National Guard to the city.
This is the first time a president has federalised the Metropolitan Police Department.
Trump deployed the National Guard to address what he believes to be out-of-control crime.
“I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor, and worse,” Trump said at the start of a news conference at the White House.
“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capitol back.”
However, the move has been condemned by local officials who noted that official crime statistics in DC are on the decline.
DC attorney general, Brain Schwalbe, said the president's actions were “unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful” and signalled his office will challenge the administration.
“There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year,” Schwalbe said in an X post.
“We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents,” he said.
Of the around 800 National Guard members deployed by Trump, 100 to 200 of them will be aiding in law enforcement at any given time.
This is the second time Trump has deployed the National Guard in a matter of months. The last time was in June when he sent the guard to Los Angeles over objections of state and local officials.
