On August 11, 2025, former President Donald Trump assumed direct control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). That audacious step opened up a national firestorm of debate and controversy. Yet this unprecedented takeover lasted only 30 days. Throughout this period, Trump called in the National Guard and multi-jurisdictional federal officers while painting these moves as a crackdown on crime and homelessness.
Trump’s reign as the de facto head of the MPD came to an end on September 10, 2025. While this was happening, a senior White House official bragged that federal agents arrested 2,120 people in law enforcement blockades. Among those arrested were 20 identified gang members, and law enforcement officers confiscated 214 guns. His administration framed these actions as necessary to restore order in a city he called “troubled and broken.”
Over the course of his strategy, Trump issued a national emergency. This decision was motivated by a long-simmering feud with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If he had to, he would federalize the situation himself — that was how far he would go for the people of Washington, D.C.
“To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!” – Donald Trump
The deployment of these National Guard troops from six states, were arguably the most public-facing part of Trump’s main operation. These troops were grotesquely armed and active in almost all aspects of law enforcement throughout his time in command. This move drew sharp criticism, as many observers viewed it as an example of federal overreach into local governance.
Beyond crime-related controversies, Trump’s administration made one hugely impactful, controversial move on immigration policy as well. First, they **chose not to deport** 475 people. Far from it, as most of them are South Korean nationals that were arrested at a construction site in rural Georgia. This decision focused attention on the administration’s inconsistency in enforcing existing immigration laws and the rule of law.
In addition, critics are calling out Trump’s federal officers for racially profiling people in Washington, D.C. This charge deeply complicates the story of his controversial police takeover. The local population responded with near-unanimous anger. Tens of thousands flooded the streets to protest Trump’s takeover of their city, a Democratic stronghold that has continued to resist Trump’s agenda.
In a way, Trump’s broader play to politicize law enforcement in Washington has altered the contours of a long-simmering debate over social media. His successor, President Biden, during his second term, extended the TikTok deadline three times. This came after his leadership in calling for an outright ban on the platform within his first term. This sharp contrast between social media engagement and heavy-handed law enforcement has garnered criticism from several sectors.
Unlike his temporary control over the MPD, that deferral is indefinite. What remains to be seen is how these historic actions will change the nature and governance of the city and improve public safety. Critics say that his urgent measures did far less to address the underlying issues of crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C.