ENSURING THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF OUR NATION’S CAPITAL:
Today, President Donald J. Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum aimed at reinstating law and order in the District of Columbia.
- The Memorandum instructs the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the District of Columbia National Guard to tackle the rampant crime affecting our Nation’s capital.
- The National Guard will remain on duty until a semblance of law and order is re-established.
- The Secretary of Defense is also directed to collaborate with State Governors and authorize the mobilization of additional National Guard units as deemed necessary.
RESTORING LAW AND ORDER:
Washington, D.C. is facing an alarming surge in violent crime, prompting federal intervention to safeguard the safety and operational integrity of our Nation’s capital, the federal government, and its residents.
- As the seat of our Nation’s government, Washington, D.C. is a federal city. The violent crime that jeopardizes the safety of federal employees and hinders citizens from accessing their elected officials poses a national threat, not just a local one.
- The local government in D.C. appears to have lost control over public safety.
- In May, two staff members from embassies were tragically murdered.
- In June, a Congressional intern was shot dead not far from the White House.
- Recently, a staff member from the Trump Administration was violently assaulted by a mob.
- Washington, D.C.’s violent crime rate has reached levels exceeding some of the world’s most dangerous cities.
- The projected murder rate for Washington, D.C. in 2024 (27.54 per 100K) surpasses that of Bogotá (15.1), Mexico City (10.6), Islamabad (9.2), Lima (7.6), and even major European capitals like Paris (1.64), London (1.1), and Madrid (0.96).
- President Trump has a constitutional duty to restore order, ensuring that citizens, tourists, and government staff can live and work peacefully in the Nation’s capital. Our capital should be a source of pride, not a mark of shame.
MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN:
President Trump ran for office with the commitment to enhance safety across America and restore Washington, D.C. to its former glory.
- During his first visit back to Washington since leaving office in 2021, President Trump expressed dismay over “the filth and decay” that had overtaken the Nation’s capital in his absence.
- He later vowed that his Administration would “take charge of the poorly managed capital of our nation, Washington, D.C., cleaning it up, renovating it, and transforming it from a nightmare of crime into the most beautiful capital in the world.”
- In March, President Trump initiated a task force to enhance safety and aesthetics in D.C., increasing law enforcement presence to restore order and improve the city’s infrastructure.
- The Administration is dedicated to decreasing violent crime rates, bolstering public safety, and ensuring Washington, D.C. serves as a model of prosperity and security for the entire nation.
- President Trump stated, “Just as I managed the border, where illegal crossings went from millions to ZERO last month, I will manage our cherished Capital, making it truly GREAT AGAIN! Before the tents, squalor, and crime took over, it was the most beautiful capital in the world. It will soon be that way again.”