Although Washington, DC residents acknowledged crime issues in the city, they argued that President Donald Trump ‘overstepped’ by taking control of the local police force on Monday.
They just don’t think Trump’s takeover is the solution.
The president declared that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington would now operate under the leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Additionally, Trump sent 800 National Guard troops to the district aiming to, as he put it, ‘rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, chaos, and worse.’
The forces were expected to take over DC this week and work in shifts to defend the capital from violence around the clock.
In interviews with several DC locals conducted by the Daily Mail, many expressed doubts about the new approach from the White House, even as they acknowledged that more resources could potentially aid in addressing crime.
‘I believe it might be an overreaction,’ said Carson, a young man in his early twenties who recently relocated to DC. ‘I don’t think we need the FBI agents to deal with violent crime.’
‘Their presence could be beneficial if DC police require assistance, but I don’t believe a takeover is necessary,’ mentioned another resident regarding the troop deployments. ‘I’ve experienced robbery, but that doesn’t imply we need the National Guard.’
While many criticized Trump’s move as an overreach, some grudgingly shared that there are challenges facing the city.
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the Department of Justice will take control of the Washington, DC police force
People protest US President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the DC police force, as well as to deploy 800 National Guard members, in Washington, DC, USA, 11 August 2025
President Donald Trump shared an image of Edward Coristine, known by the nickname ‘Big Balls,’ after he was bloodied up in an attempted early morning carjacking on August 3, off the popular 14th Street corridor in Washington, DC
Federal agents patrol a street in The Wharf waterfront neighborhood in Washington
Jacqueline Turner, a great-grandmother, told the Daily Mail that young people are ‘getting kind of outrageous’ and sided with Trump on parents being held accountable for their naughty children’s bad behavior.
‘The young people figure they can do what they want and they’re not going to be punished. And that’s not right … Maybe their parents ought to be prosecuted, or … penalized if they can’t control their children and raise them decently,’ the great-grandmother told the Daily Mail.
Mobs of kids in their teens have frequently shown up in popular shopping and dining areas around DC, including the neighborhoods around Navy Yard, the Wharf and downtown, according to local reports.
Still, Jacqueline called Trump’s move to bring in the National Guard ‘ridiculous.’
‘He wants to take control of DC,’ John, another resident, said. ‘Crime has been down as far as I know.’
MPD statistics do show that violent crime is down year over year, but many locals still fret over high-profile incidents, like the recent fatal shooting of a congressional intern, a tragedy the president has spoken about.
‘Of course, you’re going to take precautionary measures,’ John added. ‘You’re going to make sure that you’re vigilant about where you’re walking.’
Recently, a high-profile former DOGE employee nicknamed ‘Big Balls’ was mugged in DC while out on the town.
A general view of a homeless encampment at Washington Circle, on Pennsylvania Avenue
Protestors took to the streets outside the White House to push back on the new policy
Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department will now be overseen by the DOJ, Trump says
Federal law enforcement was spotted around the city on Monday night
The assailants severely beat the ex-DOGE aide leaving him bloodied, according to reports. Trump said he was lucky to be alive, but it didn’t move residents to support Trump’s action.
‘He’s using that as this catalyst to militarize DC, which is insanity to me,’ Tim, a DC resident of 15 years, told the Daily Mail.
He called Trump’s decision to federalize MPD and deploy the National Guard an ‘insane overreach.’
‘It’s completely unnecessary. It’s on something that is completely baseless,’ Tim added.
Others understood the president’s perspective.
‘He’s doing what he feels like he needs to do, but I don’t think he’s in DC enough to actually know exactly what’s going on in our city,’ Daniel shared. ‘Have I heard gunshots? Yes,’ he continued. ‘Have I seen someone like get assaulted? No. Have I seen people get in fights? Yes. Do I feel safe here? 100 percent sure.’
But another man named, Rey, offered: ‘It’s never bad to send more enforcement to help a city that’s in need.’
It’s not much of a surprise Trump’s policing initiative fell flat with Washington residents. He won just 5 percent of the vote in the District of Columbia in 2024.
