On 5/8, former President Trump posted on Truth Social, "If the situation isn't corrected soon, we have no choice but to put this city under federal control, run it the way it needs to be run, and send a clear message to criminals that they will not get away with it,".
He emphasized his intention to "exercise my power to federalize this city," adding that "this should have been done a long time ago".
Trump issued the warning after Edward Coristine, a former DOGE employee, was seriously injured in an attempted carjacking on the morning of 3/8 in the nation's capital, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Billionaire Elon Musk also confirmed on X that a "DOGE member" was attacked and called for the federalization of the capital. Washington D.C. police have arrested two suspects and are investigating the incident.
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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on 1/8. Photo: AP |
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on 1/8. Photo: AP
Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, Washington D.C. is allowed to elect its mayor and city council, but the U.S. Congress retains significant oversight. Trump has repeatedly called Washington D.C.'s self-governance without federal intervention a "dirty, crime-ridden death trap".
Contrary to Trump's criticisms, statistics show that crime in Washington D.C. decreased by 35% in 2024 compared to the previous year, and the downward trend continued in 2025, especially for violent crimes, according to Fox.
This is not the first time Trump has issued such a warning. In early July, he said during a cabinet meeting that he was considering federalizing Washington D.C., asserting that "if we run it, crime will go down to a minimum".
At the end of July, he reiterated this view while discussing homelessness in urban areas, arguing that the nation's capital "must also be run properly" and "I have the right to take it over".
Earlier this year, he signed an executive order establishing the "Making the Capital Safe and Beautiful Task Force" to address quality-of-life issues in the capital, ranging from homeless encampments to public graffiti.
Thanh Danh (Fox, Washington Post, NBC)
