President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed to remove homeless people from Washington, D.C., “far” from the city centre, renewing threats to take federal control of the U.S. capital and claiming, without evidence, that crime is rising.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said his plan would “make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before,” promising to provide accommodation for the homeless, but FAR from the Capital” and to imprison criminals “swiftly.”
The president has scheduled a Monday press conference to unveil details. The District is governed locally under congressional oversight, a setup Trump has long criticised, pushing to give the White House final authority.
Washington ranks 15th among major U.S. cities for homelessness, with numbers down from pre-pandemic levels, according to federal data.
Violent crime fell 26% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, which itself saw the lowest crime rate in three decades, Justice Department figures show.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city is not facing a crime spike and dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as “hyperbolic and false.”
Earlier this week, Trump also threatened to deploy the National Guard to Washington.
The move would echo his recent decision to send California’s military reserve into Los Angeles during immigration protests, despite opposition from state leaders.
Trump has repeatedly floated using military forces to assert control over U.S. cities, especially those led by Democrats.
