Jeanine Pirro, the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, has publicly endorsed President Donald Trump’s recent initiatives aimed at enhancing security in the nation’s capital. On Fox News’ Hannity, she praised the move to place D.C. police under temporary federal control and the deployment of the National Guard. Pirro emphasized that these actions are a critical first step in addressing the ‘out of control’ crime affecting the city. She pointed out that the justice system’s current focus on rehabilitation might be contributing to the problem by not adequately punishing young offenders, who she says are becoming increasingly emboldened.
During the discussions on Hannity, Pirro stressed that citizens should be informed that such crime will not be tolerated, not just within D.C., but across the country. She referred to the city as a ‘shining city on the hill’ as envisioned by the nation’s founders, and highlighted the increasing violence in the area, calling it ‘incredibly violent.’ Pirro’s remarks were made in the context of a federal effort to crack down on crime, which includes the involvement of high-level administration officials and law enforcement, as seen in the joint announcement at the White House briefing room.
Trump, who supported the move, tweeted about his intention to make Washington, D.C. one of the safest cities in the world. In addition to the federal actions, he proposed measures such as charging teenagers as young as 14 as adults. This came in the wake of an alleged carjacking incident involving an ex-DOGE employee, known as ‘Big Balls,’ where two 15-year-olds were subsequently arrested on charges of unarmed carjacking. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has reported a significant drop in both overall and violent crime in the city, with a 7% decrease in total crime and a 26% reduction in violent crime as of the latest data, which has been acknowledged by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Mrs. Bowser noted that while the city is experiencing a decline in crime compared to the same period in 2024, the deployment of National Guard troops has been described as ‘unsettling and unprecedented.’ Despite her concerns about the impact on residents, she remains committed to working with federal authorities to ensure the city’s safety. The situation reflects a broader debate concerning the balance between security measures and the potential repercussions on local communities, as well as the effectiveness of federal intervention in addressing crime in a major urban center.