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President Donald Trump joined law enforcement and National Guard service members on the streets of Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening amid his administration’s federal takeover of the city and efforts to crackdown on rampant violence and crime.
Speaking in front of a crowd consisting of law enforcement officers from several different agencies as well as National Guard troops, Trump touted the takeover’s success in stopping crime in the city, saying, “We’ve had some incredible results and results have come out and it’s like a different place. It’s like a different city.”
“The numbers are down like we wouldn’t believe, but we believe it,” he said.
This comes as Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Thursday that there has not been a homicide in the city in more than a week, coinciding with Trump’s federal takeover.
Addressing the officers and troops assembled, Trump said, “When I look at you people, I understand why. Because there’s no games, right? We’re not playing games. 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. We want to make this absolutely perfect. It’s our capital.”
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While praising the officers and troops for a job well done, Trump also announced, “We’re going back to Congress for some money, and we’re going to redo a lot of the pavement, a lot of the medians, a lot of the graffiti is all coming off real fast, it’s going to come down real fast.”
He pledged to redo Washington’s parks and public spaces, quipping, “It’ll look like Augusta. It’ll look like, more importantly, Trump National Golf Club.”
“We’re going to be rebuilding all of your parks, and it’s going to happen fast. It’s going to go up like a miracle,” he said, adding, “So you do the job of safety and I’ll get this place fixed up physically. And we’re going to be so proud of it at the end of six months, but let’s say at the end of a year, this place will be maxed out in terms of beauty.”
Trump initially mobilized 800 D.C. National Guard troops as part of his effort to reduce crime in Washington on Aug. 11. Since then, National Guard troops from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have also been tapped to support the Trump administration’s effort.
Trump announced he would be joining law enforcement and the National Guard to show his support in an interview on Thursday with radio host Todd Starnes.
“I’m going to be going out tonight with the police and with the military, of course,” he said.
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Trump’s visit with law enforcement and National Guard troops comes just after Vice President JD Vance visited National Guard troops in Washington’s Union Station Wednesday.
“We are seeing really substantial effects because these guys are busting their a–,” Vance said Wednesday.
“Right here in Union Station, you have vagrants, you have drug addicts, you have the chronically homeless, you have the mentally ill who harass, who threatened violence, who attacked families,” Vance said. “And they’ve done it for far too long. This should be a monument to American greatness.”
Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is authorized for emergency situations up to 30 days. After that time-frame expires though, Congress must step in and approve any extensions. However, similar restrictions don’t exist for D.C. National Guard troops in the Home Rule Act.
Vance also signaled Wednesday extensions could occur, depending on how much progress is made over the next few weeks.
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Meanwhile, Washington officials filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s move to federalize local police Friday.
“By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law,” Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote in a Friday X post. “This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”
Fox News’ Patrick Ward contributed to this report.
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