Trump Promises To Liberate D.C. From ‘Savagery, Filth, And Scum’
President Donald Trump declared “Liberation Day” for the nation’s capital on Monday, unveiling a sweeping federal takeover of key law enforcement functions in Washington, D.C., and pledging to clean up the city’s streets from what he described as “crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor.”
Speaking from the White House alongside top cabinet members and law enforcement leaders, Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to declare a public emergency and place the D.C. Police Department under the direct authority of the Justice Department. DEA Administrator Terry Cole will now oversee the department.
Flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and U.S. District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Trump announced that 800 National Guard troops would immediately deploy to patrol city streets, in addition to 500 federal agents from agencies including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals, Park Police, Secret Service, and DHS already operating in the district.
“The murder rate in Washington today is higher than Bogota, Colombia, and Mexico City—places people think of as among the worst on earth,” Trump said. “The only language these criminals understand is when you knock the hell out of them.”
The president demanded Congress move to eliminate cashless bail in the district, blaming the policy for fueling lawlessness. He also pledged to repair the city’s crumbling infrastructure and eliminate homeless encampments from public spaces, saying his administration would focus on restoring parks, cleaning medians, and fixing potholes.
Burgum reported that Park Police have already cleared over 70 homeless camps since March 27, part of a broader push to reclaim public areas. “Our parks are beautiful, but right now many can’t be walked on,” Trump said. “We’re going to remove these encampments, take care of those who can be helped, and restore safety and pride to our capital.”
Trump’s move represents one of the most aggressive federal interventions in D.C. governance in decades, with the administration framing it as a necessary step to reclaim the city from the grip of crime and decay.