The Trump administration is reportedly getting ready to send hundreds more National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. At the same time, President Donald Trump is increasing his efforts to more quickly purge homeless residents. This announcement comes just days before a press conference called to discuss it. Today, as part of his 2020 budget, Trump is expected to announce how he plans to make the capital “safest and most beautiful maybe in the world.” This move tracks a spell cast by Trump in Los Angeles. He took the bold step of going to the protests over immigration, without having local officials aligned behind him.
Trump’s third news conference of the day comes at 10 a.m. Recently, Trump took to his social media platform to announce that when he takes office again he will implement a plan to “virtually eliminate violent crime” in the DC metro area. The president is apparently convinced that homeless people are the source of crime and disorder across the city. He has not been shy to speak out against this position.
“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” – Donald Trump
In his social media announcement, Trump made sure to stress that people relocated would be provided with housing “far removed from the Capital.” His administration has come under fire for its hardline approach towards the homeless. Critics accuse the administration that this approach is simply a political calculation looking ahead to the elections next year.
The proposed deployment of National Guard troops reflects a broader strategy by Trump to address perceived public safety issues in urban areas. This kind of approach is nothing new. His administration has done this before in Los Angeles during immigration protests, leading to discussions about federal overreach and local control.
Advocates and critics alike have been sounding alarm bells for years about what these deployments portend. Ted Pappageorge, a local union leader closely aligned with the administration, voiced concern about the administration’s approach.
“If you tell the rest of the world you’re not welcome, they are going to listen. Our members are telling us that they’re quite nervous, and that’s why they’re calling it a Trump slump,” – Ted Pappageorge
Beyond the homelessness crisis, Trump’s administration has made immigration enforcement a priority. Today, reports indicate that agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been given mandates to arrest at least 3,000 people per day. This directive was just one piece of a deep and far-reaching anti-immigration agenda. This strategy clearly seems designed to reinforce Trump’s hardline policy on immigration, starting with the 2024 presidential primary season.
Trump’s administration deserves credit for making a courageous, though long overdue, decision to stop American sales of H20 artificial intelligence chips to China earlier this year. Simultaneously, they were granting licenses for such sales, exposing a hypocritical view of foreign relations. The administration’s moves are especially notable as the U.S. finds itself in the midst of historic trade negotiations with China and others.
In fact, his recent remarks, signaling a complete 180 on the war in Ukraine. He appears much more willing to get inside the shoes of Ukrainians and Europeans about their vision for the war. Depending on how this development is implemented, it could have a significant impact on the future of U.S.-NATO political relations and negotiations.
The Trump Organization has not slowed on its international ventures, recently announcing a controversial golf resort project in Vietnam. This initiative commenced as Vietnam sought to finalize a crucial trade deal with the United States, highlighting Trump’s ongoing focus on economic partnerships abroad.
Recent and ongoing controversies around major offenders such as Jeffrey Epstein have raised fixes. In defense, Trump’s administration is apparently working on a rapid-response communications weapon to respond to the scandal. JD Vance, a prominent political figure within the party, has reached out to top Trump administration officials for assistance in this regard.
As Trump’s administration tries to thread this difficult needle, it is drawing fire from all sides—including in some cases from inside the administration itself. U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres pointed out the adversity that the federal departments have been through.
“A lot of departments are having a lot of layoffs,” – Norma Torres
Torres emphasized that in all fields—especially in the field of housekeeping services—workers have had their hours slashed.
“In the housekeeping department, the people on call are barely called into work,” – Norma Torres
As Trump’s planned infrastructure press conference continues to draw near, stakeholders in all sectors hope to see more clarity on his policies and proposals. The president’s rhetoric on homelessness and public safety might help rally his core supporters. It will be under fire from advocates and local officials concerned with the idea’s potential impact on human rights and community well-being.