WASHINGTON, D.C. – August 21, 2025 – President Donald Trump has announced plans to extend his aggressive crime and homelessness crackdown from Washington, D.C., to other major U.S. cities once the nation’s capital is fully secured, marking a potential escalation in federal intervention in urban areas plagued by violence and disorder.
During a visit to U.S. Park Police officers and National Guard troops on Thursday, Trump praised the ongoing operation in D.C., which he launched earlier this month, and hinted at broader ambitions. “We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while,” Trump told the assembled law enforcement personnel, emphasizing the need to make the capital “absolutely perfect.”
The president’s remarks come amid reports of significant progress in D.C. since he declared a crime emergency on August 11 and deployed federal forces, including the National Guard, to take control of local policing. Violent crime in the district has dropped 22% in the past week, with zero homicides reported during that period, according to recent data. Homeless encampments are being cleared at an accelerated pace, with federal officials aiming to eliminate all such sites within days and relocate individuals outside the city.
Trump highlighted these efforts during his speech, vowing to turn D.C. into a “spotless” model city and the “best in the world.”
Trump’s hands-on approach included delivering pizza to troops and announcing his intention to join street patrols later that evening, underscoring his campaign promise to restore safety to the capital.
“You gotta do your job, whatever it takes,” he urged the officers, crediting the crackdown for plummeting crime rates.
While the initiative has drawn praise from some residents and conservatives—who see it as a blueprint for addressing urban decay in Democrat-led cities— it has sparked fierce opposition.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials have criticized the federal takeover as an overreach that disrupts local governance and humanitarian efforts.
Protests erupted earlier this week, with demonstrators decrying the deployment of federal agents.
Critics, including Democratic leaders in potential target cities, warn of constitutional challenges. Trump has previously named Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland as possible next stops, citing their high crime rates.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore sharply rebuked Trump’s comments about Baltimore, telling the president to “keep our name out of your mouth.”
Legal experts note that unlike D.C., which falls under federal jurisdiction, intervening in state-run cities could face significant hurdles without gubernatorial consent.
Supporters on social media and in conservative circles have hailed the plan, drawing parallels to El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele’s tough-on-gang policies.
Posts celebrating the D.C. cleanup suggest it could justify nationwide National Guard deployments, potentially deterring unrest amid broader political tensions.
The White House has framed the operation as part of Trump’s “Make America Safe Again” agenda, including a beautification program for D.C. and vows to end no-cash bail policies, which he called “a disaster.” However, some reports indicate D.C.’s crime was already at historic lows before the intervention, raising questions about the necessity of the federal move.
As Trump prepares to patrol D.C. streets, the expansion threat has heightened debates over federal power, urban policy, and partisan divides in addressing America’s crime challenges. The administration has not specified timelines or exact cities but insists the focus remains on restoring order where local leaders have failed.