President Donald Trump is scheduled to conduct a patrol with the Metropolitan Police and the National Guard Thursday night, following his efforts to federalize the police department and dispatch troops to crack down on crime in Washington. This move comes as part of Trump’s broader strategy to take control of local policing and address rising crime rates in the nation’s capital.
Trump initially mobilized 800 D.C. National Guard troops as part of his effort to reduce crime in Washington 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. This deployment has been a significant step in Trump’s push to take control of local law enforcement and address the city’s growing crime problem.
Trump’s ride along with law enforcement and National Guard troops comes just after Vice President JD Vance visited National Guard troops in Washington’s Union Station Wednesday, where he praised their efforts.