President Trump’s bold move to federalize Washington, D.C.’s police and deploy the National Guard has sparked a firestorm of criticism from Democrats, especially former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who claim crime is under control, while conservatives argue the city remains a danger zone, Fox News reported.
On Monday, Trump announced plans to take over the D.C. police department and bring in the National Guard to tackle rampant crime, a decision that has Democrats clutching their pearls and conservatives cheering. The plan, invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, aims to curb a murder rate Trump says is worse than Bogota, Colombia. Social media erupted, with conservatives calling out Democrats for ignoring the bloodshed.
Trump laid out grim statistics: D.C.’s 2023 homicide rate hit 41 per 100,000, the highest in at least 25 years. He pointed to charts comparing D.C. to cities like Baghdad and Mexico City, claiming the capital’s murder rate outpaces them all. Car thefts have doubled, and carjackings have tripled over the past five years, he added.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took to X, branding Trump’s plan “unhinged” and pointing to a DOJ press release claiming violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low. Her selective use of data ignores the 2023 murder spike and ongoing issues like juvenile carjackings. Conservatives on social media were quick to pounce, with one user, Steve Guest, suggesting Clinton try living in D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood to test her claims.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed Clinton, posting that Trump has “no basis” to seize control of D.C.’s police since violent crime is supposedly down. Jeffries’ rosy picture dismisses the reality of a 21-year-old congressional intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, gunned down in June 2025. Social media users, like Clay Travis, mocked Democrats for acting as if D.C.’s streets are safe.
Trump didn’t mince words, calling D.C.’s murder rate “much higher” than notorious global cities and declaring Monday “Liberation Day” for the capital. He argued that the city’s crime wave, including deadly shootings of children and attacks on government workers, demands federal action. His plan to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police under direct federal control aims to restore order.
The Metropolitan Police Department claims violent crime dropped 26% in 2025 compared to 2024, with homicides down 12%. Yet, a suspended police commander allegedly fudged crime data, casting doubt on those numbers, as White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson noted. Just Facts, a nonprofit, warned that FBI guidelines caution against simplistic crime comparisons due to shifting reporting standards.
Trump’s charts painted a dire picture, showing D.C.’s 2024 murder rate was 83% higher than in 2012. He highlighted rampant carjackings, some involving juveniles and ending in tragedy. These stats fuel conservative arguments that Democrats are whitewashing a crisis to score political points.
Clinton’s claim of a 30-year crime low leans heavily on a single DOJ press release from January 2025. Her narrative sidesteps the brutal reality of 2023’s record-breaking murder rate. Social media conservatives, like William Timmons, accused Democrats of prioritizing failed policies over public safety.
One unattributed X post questioned why Democrats seem to defend “thugs” over law-abiding citizens. The sentiment reflects a broader conservative frustration with progressive crime policies. Trump’s supporters see his plan as a necessary antidote to years of mismanagement.
Trump’s invocation of the Home Rule Act gives him legal muscle to federalize the police, a move he says will let the National Guard do their job “properly.” Critics like Jeffries call it overreach, but conservatives argue it’s a long-overdue response to a city spiraling out of control. The debate has only intensified online vitriol.
Social media reactions highlight a deep divide: conservatives view D.C. as a warzone, while Democrats cling to stats suggesting progress. Abigail Jackson’s jab at Jeffries as a “massive liar” underscores the White House’s pushback against Democratic spin. The truth likely lies in the messy middle—crime may be down slightly, but the body count tells a different story.
D.C.’s recent tragedies, like the killing of young intern Tarpinian-Jachym, keep the pressure on for action. Shoplifting, assaults, and attacks on summer interns paint a picture of a city under siege, despite Democratic claims. Trump’s aggressive stance aims to reset the narrative.
Conservatives argue that Democrats’ denialism enables chaos, with one X user quipping that Jeffries would rather “preserve dangerous cities” than admit failure. Trump’s plan, while controversial, taps into a growing demand for law and order in a capital battered by crime. The National Guard’s deployment could be a game-changer—or a flashpoint.
As D.C. braces for federal intervention, the clash between Trump’s hardline approach and Democratic pushback shows no signs of cooling. Social media will keep buzzing with barbs, but the real test is whether the capital can become a safer place. For now, conservatives are betting on Trump to deliver.
