FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
"What a shame – rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else, we’re not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House.
Trump also told reporters at the time he was open to taking over Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department because crime in the nation’s capital is "ridiculous."
While a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is justified in cases of emergency, Trump's move will likely be challenged in court over whether the situation in Washington qualifies as an emergency.
Trump has historically railed against violence in Washington, and said Tuesday that crime is "totally out of control" in the nation's capital.
Meanwhile, crime in Washington is on the decline. Violent crime is down 26% this year, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2024, according to Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department. Likewise, assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 20%, and homicides are down by 12%.
WATCH: TRUMP HINTS HE WILL FEDERALIZE DC SOON, BRING IN NATIONAL GUARD AFTER ‘BIG BALLS’ ATTACK
FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
Washington’s Mayor Muriel Bowser challenged Trump’s description of the city during an interview with MSNBC Sunday, and voiced concerns about the possibility of activating the National Guard to tackle the city’s crime.
"Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," Bowser said.
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"I’m concerned about them not being used efficiently, and I just think that’s not the most efficient use of our Guard," Bowser said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Diana Stancy is a politics reporter with Fox News Digital covering the White House.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-activates-national-guard-troops-fight-totally-out-control-crime-washington