US President Donald Trump has called for the immediate removal of homeless people from Washington DC, pledging to make the capital “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.” The move has sparked a sharp response from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who rejected the White House’s characterisation of the city as comparable to war-torn Baghdad.
The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled White House press conference on Monday morning, where Trump is expected to outline a comprehensive plan to tackle crime and revamp the city’s image.
Federal Crime Crackdown Intensifies
Trump’s latest order follows a month-old executive action making it easier to arrest homeless individuals. Last week, he dispatched hundreds of federal law enforcement officers into the city, citing what he described as “totally out of control” crime levels.
According to a White House official, approximately 450 federal officers – including members of the US Park Police, FBI, US Marshals Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration – were deployed on Saturday night. The administration is also weighing the deployment of National Guard troops, though a final decision has yet to be made.
On social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
He posted images of tent encampments and litter, vowing, “There will be no ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’ We want our Capital BACK.”
Mayor Rejects ‘Baghdad’ Comparison
Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, pushed back, insisting Washington DC is not experiencing a crime wave.
“It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023. We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low.”
She also criticised White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller for describing the city as “more violent than Baghdad,” calling the statement “hyperbolic and false.”
Federal data from January supports Bowser’s claim, showing overall violent crime – including carjackings, assaults, and robberies – reached a three-decade low last year. However, Washington DC’s homicide rate remains high per capita, with 98 killings recorded so far this year.
Homelessness in the Capital
According to the Community Partnership, an organisation focused on reducing homelessness, the city’s homeless population is around 3,782 on any given night, with approximately 800 sleeping outdoors. Most others reside in public housing or emergency shelters.
Trump has previously floated a controversial 2022 proposal to relocate homeless individuals to “high quality” tent facilities on inexpensive land outside major cities, providing access to sanitation and healthcare services.
Powers and Limitations
As a federal district rather than a state, Washington DC falls under congressional oversight. The president has authority over federal lands and buildings within the city but would require congressional approval to take direct control of local government functions, such as the Metropolitan Police Department.
Trump recently suggested he might take over the DC police force, a move Bowser said was not legally possible under current conditions.
“There are very specific things in our law that would allow the president to have more control over our police department,” Bowser stated. “None of those conditions exist right now.”
A Broader Pattern of City Clashes
Trump’s clash with Bowser reflects a broader pattern of disputes with Democratic-led cities during his two terms in office. In recent months, he ordered thousands of National Guard members into Los Angeles to address unrest linked to raids on undocumented migrants – a decision now facing legal challenge in a federal court in California.
The president’s Monday press conference will reportedly focus on measures to reduce “crime, murder, and death” in Washington DC, alongside proposals for its “physical renovation.”
