DC Mayor Says Trump Was Wrong
Washington, D.C. – In a heated exchange on Capitol Hill, Mayor Muriel Bowser clashed with congressional Republicans over President Donald Trump’s bold move to deploy the National Guard and federal agents to restore law and order in the nation’s capital.
Bowser, a Democrat, dismissed Trump’s strategy, insisting the recent decline in violent crime wasn’t due to the National Guard presence.
“What has worked is more DEA, more FBI,” Bowser testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “The National Guard hasn’t been what’s helped us enhance MPD services.”
Her comments came as crime in D.C. hit its lowest point in three decades, a major shift since Trump launched his federal crackdown on what he called “rampant lawlessness” in the city.
Trump’s Federal Crackdown Brings Immediate Results
In early August, President Trump ordered a sweeping deployment of federal resources, including:
- Hundreds of National Guard troops
- FBI agents
- DEA officers
- ICE personnel
The results were immediate and dramatic.
Just two days after Trump’s order, there was one homicide reported — followed by 13 straight days with zero murders, something D.C. has not seen in years.
Since then, only four additional homicides have been recorded, bringing the total to 108 for the year, a steep slowdown compared to earlier months.
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., a retired Army National Guard brigadier general, slammed Bowser for refusing to call in the Guard earlier when crime was skyrocketing.
“The National Guard could have been deployed sooner to protect innocent families,” Perry said, arguing that Bowser’s hesitation cost lives.
Bowser fired back, claiming the Guard should not be treated as a local police force:
“We don’t regard the Guard as a law enforcement agency, so we wouldn’t call on them,” she said.
D.C. Attorney General Attacks Trump’s Law-and-Order Agenda
While Bowser’s tone was measured, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb unleashed a fiery attack on Trump’s efforts, painting them as heavy-handed and dangerous.
“Flooding our neighborhoods with armed National Guard troops untrained in local policing, sending masked agents in unmarked cars to detain people — none of this is a lasting solution to crime,” Schwalb claimed. “It destroys trust between the police and the community.”
Conservatives blasted Schwalb’s remarks, arguing that Democrats care more about politics than public safety.
White House: ‘Indefinite’ Federal Support Secured
Despite the criticism, the Trump administration views the crackdown as a clear victory.
CNN reported that Trump allowed the emergency order to expire only after Bowser issued her own executive order pledging “indefinite cooperation” with federal law enforcement.
“The key word is ‘indefinitely,’” a senior White House official told CNN. “That’s exactly what President Trump wanted.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was briefed on the revised plan and has vowed not to extend the original federal takeover order, setting the stage for more political battles over public safety.
Crime Plummets — But Political Tensions Soar
As D.C.’s homicide rate continues to fall, Bowser acknowledged that progress must continue.
“Any crime is too much crime,” she told lawmakers. “But we’re trending in the right direction.”
However, critics say that without Trump’s decisive action, the nation’s capital would still be spiraling out of control.
With the 2026 midterm elections looming, Trump’s success in tackling crime could become a defining issue for voters — especially as Democrats like Bowser downplay the results.
Key Takeaway
President Trump’s tough-on-crime strategy has delivered fast, measurable results — even as Democrats attempt to take credit or downplay his efforts.
The coming months will reveal whether Washington, D.C., remains on the path to law and order or slips back into chaos.
