President Trump announced his intention to join the Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard troops for patrols around Washington, D.C., on Thursday night as part of a federal initiative to address crime.
“I’m planning to head out tonight with the police and, naturally, the military. We’re set to do a solid job,” Trump remarked during an interview with conservative radio host Todd Starnes. “The National Guard has been remarkable. Their work has been outstanding.”
A White House official told The Hill that details of what Trump would be doing were forthcoming.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration escalated federal law enforcement presence in various parts of the District, addressing what the White House deemed an unacceptable crime level, despite data indicating a decrease in violent crime within the city.
Last week, Trump assumed federal command over the Metropolitan Police Department and deployed numerous National Guard units throughout the city to intensify the crackdown on crime.
According to White House officials, by Thursday, there had been over 600 total arrests since the deployment of federal officers started on August 7. Out of these, 251 were undocumented immigrants, as reported by the White House.
Those opposing Trump’s stringent measures in D.C. have highlighted crime statistics showing a reduction in the city’s violent crime rates in 2024 and a further decline in 2025. Some local residents have also voiced their objections, protesting against the presence of federal officers in their communities.
A Washington Post-Schar School poll of 604 D.C. residents published Wednesday found 65 percent do not think Trump’s actions will make the city safer. Roughly 80 percent of residents said they opposed Trump’s executive order to federalize the city’s police department.
But White House officials have been adamant that statistics do not accurately capture the state of crime and decay in the nation’s capital.
Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller met with National Guard troops at Union Station on Wednesday to thank them for their work. The officials were greeted with protests at the transportation hub, which Miller mocked.
“We’re going to ignore these stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap because they’re all over 90 years old,” he said. “And we’re going to get back to the business of protecting the American people and the citizens of Washington, D.C.”
Updated at 1:03 p.m. EDT.
