Fight against crime | Trump imposes his law in Washington

(New York) There is a new sheriff in Washington, and his law could sometimes look like that of the West West.

Under his authority, which could extend to other major American cities, including Chicago and New York, the police “will be able to do whatever they want” in the face of provocations.

“This is the only language that criminals understand,” said Donald Trump on Monday morning at an extraordinary press conference in which he announced his unprecedented decision to place Washington police under the control of the federal government for a period of 30 days, as well as that of deploying some 800 soldiers of the National Guard in the Federal Capital of the United States.

Flanked by several senior officials from his administration, the Republican President justified his decisions by brushing a dystopian portrait of Washington and refuting official statistics on local crime which contradict his claims.

“I announce a historical measure to save the capital of our nation from crime, blood, chaos, misery and worse. It is the Liberation Day in Washington, and we are going to take over our capital, “he said from the outset to a press room in the White House crowded with journalists, where he was accompanied by the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, the General Prosecutor of the United States, Pam Bondi, and the director of the FBI, Kash Patel, among others.

“Our capital was invaded by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, wandering bands of violent young people, drug addicts and homeless, and we will no longer let it happen,” he added.

Figures questioned by Trump

This Washington Dantesque contrasts with the encouraging data presented on January 3 by the office of the Federal Prosecutor of the District of Columbia, territory corresponding to the city of Washington. “The total number of violent crimes for 2024 in the Columbia district decreased by 35 % compared to 2023 and has been the lowest for more than 30 years, according to data collected by the Metropolitan Police Department,” could then read in a statement released by the office.

And this number has further fell by 26 % since the start of the year.

As for the robbery of cars, a problem on which the president insisted, they decreased by 37 % compared to the same period last year. That said, they remain higher than before the pandemic.

But Donald Trump questioned all the positive data on crime in Washington, just as he recently denied the bad figures on employment. He also invoked part of the law governing the District of Columbia which authorizes him to use the local police “for federal purposes” if he judges that there are “special conditions of urgent nature”.

After 48 hours, he will have to send a special message to certain Congress leaders to extend his authority over the Columbia district police over a 30 -day period.

Unlike the California National Guard, which comes under the governor of this State and whose deployment by Donald Trump continues to make a dispute in court, the National Guard of the District of Columbia falls under full control of the president. And, in contrast to other national guards, it can be used to carry out order to maintain order, according to a directive of the Ministry of Justice dating back to the administration of George Bush Father.

Donald Trump also mentioned the possibility of deploying soldiers of the American army “if necessary”. In the meantime, his administration has assigned 120 FBI agents to the night patrol in the streets of Washington.

“He plays the dictator”

Unsurprisingly, Democrats and Republicans have reacted divergently to the measures announced by the president.

“Trump’s brutal authoritarian power in Washington is part of an increasing national crisis,” warned the Democratic Senator of Maryland Chris Van Hollen on X. “He plays the dictator in the capital of our nation, as a dress rehearsal, while he pushes democracy on the brink. »»

The former president of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi recalled that Donald Trump had “delayed the deployment of the National Guard on January 6 (2021) while our capitol was violently attacked and that lives were at stake”.

“Today, he mobilizes the Washington National Guard to divert attention from his incompetence in the management of customs duties, health care, education and immigration, to name a few of his blunders,” she added on X.

Other Democrats have criticized the president for trying to divert the attention of Epstein files.

In contrast, the Republicans praised the measures of the president, the Senator of South Carolina Lindsey Graham launching on X: “Mr. President, do what is necessary to restore security in the District of Columbia. »»

The current president of the room, Mike Johnson, also expressed his support. “President Trump is right,” he wrote on X. We cannot let crime destroy the capital of our nation. »»

The mayor little surprised

Washington Democrat mayor Muriel Browser has shown a certain diplomacy by commenting on Donald Trump’s measures. She first recognized that the president had the power to place local police under the control of the federal government. But it called the deployment of the National Guard as “illegal”.

“I cannot say that we are totally surprised, given certain speeches in the past,” she said after qualifying the president’s measures as “disturbing and unprecedented” at a press conference. “I can tell the inhabitants of Washington that we will continue to direct our government in a way that will make you proud. »»

It was not yesterday that Donald Trump talks about deploying the National Guard in Washington or in other Democratic cities. During his last presidential campaign, he often mentioned this intention by attacking Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, among others. However, he has never mentioned cities located in republican states, including New Orleans, St. Louis and Memphis, where crime far exceeds that of democratic cities.

But the president brought this subject to the forefront after the assault of Edward Coristine, a young ex-employee of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), near the Dupont Circle, in Washington, in the early morning last Sunday, during an alleged car steering.

Since then, he has threatened to “federalize” the District of Columbia to chase criminals and the homeless. He added on Monday that his administration “could go further”, notably quoting the city of Chicago.