Trump’s D.C. police takeover starts with a facts problem and ends with a power grab
Trump’s announcement that he was taking over Washington’s police force and calling up 800 National Guard troops immediately ran into the city’s own crime data, which showed violent crime had fallen from its post-pandemic peak and kept sinking in 2025. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move unsettling, the top D.C. prosecutor called it unlawful, and the administration’s rhetoric about a public safety emergency sounded more dramatic than supported.
First recorded Aug 11, 2025·Meaningfully updated Aug 11, 2025
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Trump’s D.C. police takeover starts with a facts problem and ends with a power grab
Trump’s announcement that he was taking over Washington’s police force and calling up 800 National Guard troops immediately ran into the city’s own crime data, which showed violent crime had fallen from its post-pandemic peak and kept sinking in 2025. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move unsettling, the top D.C. prosecutor called it unlawful, and the administration’s rhetoric about a public safety emergency sounded more dramatic than supported.
Trump’s announcement that he was taking over Washington’s police force and calling up 800 National Guard troops immediately ran into the city’s own crime data, which showed violent crime had fallen from its post-pandemic peak and kept sinking in 2025. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move unsettling, the top D.C. prosecutor called it unlawful, and the administration’s rhetoric about a public safety emergency sounded m…
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