National Guard troops started their crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, which ended in 23 arrests.
President Donald Trump placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control for up to 30 days, which he was able to do due to District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act, per Fox News.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and federal officials met to talk about coordination and strategy.
“What I’m focused on is the federal surge and how to make the most of the additional officer support that we have,” she said. “We have the best in the business in MPD Chief Pamela Smith to lead that effort and to make sure that the men and women who are coming from federal law enforcement are being well-used and that if there’s National Guard here they’re being well-used.”
It was not known how many troops were in the city or what they did.
Tuesday’s arrests included suspects wanted for murder and gun offenses.
Six illegal firearms were seized, House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X about making the nation’s capital “safe again.”
“These are just a few examples — we are just getting started. Federal partners joined local police and arrested 23 in total,” Patel wrote. “When you let good cops be cops they can clean up our streets and do it fast. More to come. Your nation’s Capital WILL be safe again.”
Bowser said she had no choice but to comply with Trump’s order.
Not everyone agrees with Trump’s decision, as IJR previously reported.
“As you listen to an unhinged Trump try to justify deploying the National Guard in DC, here’s reality,” former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote on X. “Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) posted Trump had “no basis” to take over Washington’s police.
“Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low,” he posted. “Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost.”
