Protesters called Trump “Hitler of our time” during DC dinner
Protesters call President Trump “Hitler of our time” at the DC Restaurant.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s 30-day official declaration in Washington, DC is expected to expire after September 10th, ending the federal takeover of the city’s police station, but the presence of troops in the country’s capital will not end.
Trump’s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in Washington remains unaffected by deadlines and on the city’s streets.
Here’s what we know when the acquisition of DC’s metropolitan police station is over:
What happens after the 30-day mark?
Trump signed an executive order declaring a criminal emergency in Washington, D.C. on August 11, calling a section of the Federal Home Rules Act of 1973, allowing DC to direct them to control police department management for 30 days.
The Republican two-term president-elect tapped Attorney General Pam Bondi to temporarily command the DC police station and appointed Terry Cole, the interim federal director of the police station, drug enforcement agency.
Immigration enforcement is one of the key areas that the Trump administration ordered cooperation from the DC police.
But maintaining federal police for more than 30 days would require a lawsuit from Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he won’t work to extend the deadline.
Mayor DC Muriel Bowser told reporters that the end of the 30-day public emergency “we are not forced by the MPD to provide MPD services, as the president directs. That will change.”
How about the National Guard?
More than 2,000 National Guard troops deployed in Washington will patrol city streets as part of Trump’s criminal crackdown, even after the emergency is over.
Trump turned to special authorities available to him because of DC’s unique position as a federal enclave for deploying the National Guard to DC. This was a different action from a 30-day emergency or a police takeover.
Brig. General Leland D. Blanchard II, interim commander of the DC National Guard, extended the deployment of security guards until November 30th last week.
“I have decided to extend the camp as we continue to work to ensure that everyone passing through these cities is safe,” Blanchard said in the video. “They deserve it. You deserve it. Our country deserves it.”
What’s next for DC?
On September 2, Bowser, who helped Trump in his actions, issued an executive order that he called “going down the road” after the emergency was over.
The order requires local DC officials to coordinate with several federal government agencies, including the former US S-Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Park Police, “to the fullest extent of the law” that lists several federal agencies. Not included in the list are the US immigration and customs enforcement agencies. There is no expiration date for orders.
“MPD will continue to work with federal agencies as they have always done in a strategic way for public safety,” Bowser said.
The mayor added:
Did Trump’s DC crackdown reduce crime?
Trump welcomed DC’s crime crackdown as a wild success, and even Bowser agreed that an increase in federal presence would help reduce the number of murder, carjacking and gun crimes.
But Trump exaggerates the size of the turnaround, claiming that DC is now “literally no crime,” explaining a city where people can’t dine at restaurants before the takeover. Violent crime, which has fallen 26% since 2024, when Trump announced his takeover, has already fallen in DC.
MPD data shows that at least five murders have occurred in DC over the past 30 days. This included a 13-day streak without murder from August 13th to 26th.
According to the White House, 20 known gang members, seven missing children rescued, 225 firearms were seized, and 50 homeless camps were cleared, and 2,310 arrests have been made since surgery began.
“D.C. today is much safer than a month ago thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership,” Whitehoshe spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement to USA Today. “The Trump administration is looking forward to continuing coordination with local leaders and encourages other Democrats to follow Mayor Bowser’s lead.”
Recognizing last month’s crime cuts, Bowser says federal intervention has led to “breaking trust” between the community and law enforcement.
Which city will Trump target next?
Trump said he plans to send National Guard to other cities to expand his crime crackdown. And he appears to be close to announcing his decision on his next target.
Trump floated New Orleans last week. He is getting help from state Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, the state’s Republican, as it may send the National Guard next, rather than Chicago, where Trump’s repeated threats drew resistance from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Trump appeared to suggest that New Orleans could be chosen for his remarks to reporters on September 9 before dining at the popular DC Seafood and Steakhouse just off the White House.
“We’re going to announce to another city that we’re going right away. We’re working with governors of certain states who we’re hoping to be there and mayors of certain cities in the same state,” Trump said.
Can Congress target DC?
On the same day, with Trump’s DC police emergency control expired, House committees began considering more than a dozen bills that would take federal control over the city and change some of the crime laws.
One measure would prohibit public property camps from cracking down on the homeless. The other allows a 14-year-old child to be tested as an adult for certain crimes. Another allows the White House, not the residents, to appoint the D.C. Attorney General.
D.C.’s current Attorney General Brian Schwarb condemned the proposal on social media as lawmakers prepared to discuss it.
“D.C. laws should not be written by people who don’t know how DC actually works,” he wrote to X.
Joey Garrison @Jo Garrison to reach.
