() President Donald Trump plans to ask Congress to extend his 30-day police takeover in Washington, D.C., he said during a Wednesday event at the Kennedy Center.
If Congress fails to grant him the extensions, Trump said he would declare a national emergency to continue his control over the district’s Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard troops.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt first floated the idea that the administration would “reevaluate and reassess” whether the 30-day period was too short for Trump’s planned enforcement.
Trump’s DC takeover hits 100-plus arrests
More than 100 people have been arrested since Trump’s takeover of the nation’s capital, a White House official told on Wednesday.
More than 1,450 authorities participated in enforcement efforts Tuesday night, including 700 federal agents, 30 National Guard troops and 750 uniformed Metropolitan Police Department personnel, the official said.
The dozens of people arrested so far face charges that include narcotics, firearms, drunk driving and warrant violations. At least one person has been charged with homicide, 24 guns were seized, and 23 of those arrested were in the U.S. illegally, according to the official.
As of December 2024, more than 702,000 people resided in the nation’s capital.
A “significantly higher” National Guard presence is expected on the ground Wednesday night, according to a White House official.
Starting Thursday, the National Guard will patrol 24 hours a day, not just during the evenings.
Homeless camps to be cleared, but shelter space a concern
Wednesday morning, the White House said two camps for the homeless on National Park Service property could be cleared out as soon as this week. Where those people will go remains unknown.
Video captured Wednesday morning shows that one of these encampments is already in the process of being cleared out.
Two advocates for homeless people told on Tuesday the shelter space in D.C. is “very limited.”
“That’s going to be a mess,” said one person living in one of the city’s encampments. “Because that’s going to be a mess, I’m telling you.”
Leavitt said Tuesday that people will be given the option to leave their encampment, be taken to a shelter or offered addiction or mental health services.
“If they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time,” Leavitt said. “Again, these are preexisting laws that are already on the books. They have not been enforced.”
Other Democrat-led cities could be next Trump target
cameras captured approximately 800 National Guard members arriving for duty Tuesday. The federal troops will work in D.C. alongside U.S. Park Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, border czar Tom Homan confirmed.
Trump has floated the idea of expanding his crackdown against crime and homelessness to cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Baltimore.
“We’re going to take back our capital,” Trump said. “And then we’ll look at other cities.”
‘s Rob Taub and Joe Khalil contributed to this report.
