Trump puts Washington, DC, police under federal control, deploys National Guard

President Donald Trump on Monday said he is placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying National Guard troops in order to address what he claims is out-of-control crime in the capital city."This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we're going to take our capitol back," Trump declared at the start of a lengthy news conference in the White House press briefing room.He said he was invoking his authority under Section 740 of the district's Rule Act, the decades-old law that establishes the capital's local government.The section Trump cited gives the president the power to order the D.C. mayor to temporarily hand over control of the Metropolitan Police force if he determines that "special conditions of an emergency nature exist."But his emergency control is set to expire after a maximum of 30 days, according to the statute

That can be ext, but only if Congress passes a law authorizing it.While Trump has frequently complained crime in the district, violent crime there has fallen to a 30-year low as of January, according to the U.S

Department of Justice.U.S

Jonathan Ernst | Reutetatistics from the Metropolitan Police Department also show that incidences of homicide, sexual abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery and overall violent crime have dropped by double-digit percentages so far this year.Federal law enforcement presence in D.C. has nevertheless increased in recent days.D.C

Attorney General Brian Schwalbe called Trump's actions "unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful," and signaled his office will take action to 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 tect the rights and safety of District residents," he said.Trump, who has recently threatened to place Washington under federal control, said Monday morning that U.S

Attorney General Pam Bondi is "taking command of the Metropolitan Police Department as of this moment."He also said that he will deploy the National Guard to "help re-establish law order and public safety in Washington, D.C., and they're going to be allowed to do their job perly."Trump added, "You're going to have a lot of essentially military, and we will bring in the military if it's needed."Soldiers from the U.S

Bryan Dozier | Afp | Getty ImagesD.C

Mayor Muriel Bowser's office did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for on Trump's actions.She had previously pushed back on Trump's characterization of her city."People are coming to our capital

They're starting in our capital, and they're raising families in our capital

Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," Bowser said Sunday on MSNBC's "The Weekend."Trump had teased his announcement on social media in the days leading up to the presser."Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR

I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!" Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier Monday.On Sunday, he declared that "the less" in D.C. will "have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," while assuring that the government "will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital."The Trump administration has disputed that crime in D.C. is dropping

White House communications director Steven Cheung on Monday morning pointed to a police union's reported accusation that crime statistics in D.C. have been manipulated.Trump's complaints crime in D.C. ramped up after reports that Edward Coristine, one of the initial staffers on the White House's Department of Government Efficiency, was assaulted there earlier this month.Read more CNBC coverageJudge rejects unsealing Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcriptsWatch : Trump weighs deploying National Guard to Washington, DCDemocrats slam GOP redistricting fight as 'cheating' as Texas Gov

Trade partners say that's way off the markMurdoch to vide Trump health in deal to delay Epstein case depositionTrump also signaled he plans to renew criticism of the cost of an renovation of the Federal Reserve headquarters, continuing his line of attack against the central bank's chairman, Jerome Powell.In another social media post, he wrote, "We are not going to allow people to spend $3.1 Billion Dollars on fixing up a building, the Federal Reserve, which could have been done in a far more elegant and time sensitive manner for $50 to $100 Million Dollars."The Trump administration deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in June to address civil unrest over federal immigration enforcement operations in the city.

Gavin Newsom has sued the administration, arguing that Trump's actions were unconstitutional.A trial on the suit in California federal court was set to begin Monday morning.This is news

Please check back for .