President Trump Says DC Is Now a ‘Crime Free Zone’

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday to celebrate the impact of his recent federal intervention in Washington, D.C., proclaiming the capital a safe haven from criminal activity.

“DC IS NOW A CRIME FREE ZONE, IN JUST 12 DAYS!!! President DJT,” he wrote in a post that highlighted the swift changes under his administration’s oversight.

In a follow-up message, Trump shared specific enforcement data from August 30, noting 76 arrests and the seizure of five firearms. Among those detained were an El Salvadorian national affiliated with the MS-13 gang, two individuals charged with firearm possession offenses as “drivers of violence,” someone accused of assaulting a federal officer and making threats against the president, another for threatening National Guard members, and a suspect in a sexual assault case.

“This is a list I get every single day!” Trump added, emphasizing the daily reports he receives on these operations.

The declaration follows Trump’s decision two weeks earlier to address rising crime in the district by declaring a public safety emergency and invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This move placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal authority, allowing for the deployment of approximately 800 National Guard troops—with 100 to 200 active at any given time—and the reassignment of agents from agencies like ICE to bolster patrols.

Early results have shown promise. In the first 13 days of the crackdown, federal forces reported around 550 arrests, while preliminary data from the Metropolitan Police indicated a 40% reduction in robberies and auto break-ins. By August 24, the total arrests had climbed to over 700, with 91 illegal firearms removed from the streets. Trump has pointed to even broader successes, including an 87% drop in carjackings, as evidence that the capital is on track to become a model for urban safety nationwide.

The initiative builds on Trump’s campaign pledges to restore order in the nation’s capital. As he stated during a January 2024 rally, “We’re going to clean up Washington, D.C., and we’re going to make it a crime-free zone. There’s not going to be any crime.” Now, with the emergency measures in place, the president has expressed interest in extending federal control over local policing on a long-term basis, positioning D.C. as a “beacon” for other cities struggling with similar issues.

Local authorities have complemented these efforts with additional steps, such as imposing a juvenile curfew over the weekend to further curb potential disruptions amid the ongoing crackdown. Joint operations involving the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Secret Service, and the Metropolitan Police have been key to detaining individuals and disrupting criminal networks.

Supporters like Judge Jeanine Pirro have praised the shifts, noting that Trump has transformed the “safety landscape” in D.C. Senator Marsha Blackburn has echoed this sentiment, criticizing those who undermine law enforcement by portraying officers as antagonists. These actions underscore a commitment to prioritizing public safety and enforcing the rule of law in one of America’s most prominent cities.