Trump Signals Expansion of Crime Crackdown Beyond D.C.

President Donald Trump said Friday he may extend his federal crime crackdown from Washington, D.C., to other major Democrat-led cities, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. He described the D.C. effort as a “test case,” citing falling crime rates and a rise in arrests as evidence that federal intervention can restore order in cities struggling with public safety.

Trump claimed he has received calls from politicians “begging” him to bring similar action to their cities. At the same time, he criticized some local leaders, such as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, for not openly seeking help. “They don’t like to say it. I wish they’d say, ‘I need help,’” he said, suggesting political resistance was interfering with public safety efforts.

He also pointed to a previous decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles during protests against ICE enforcement. Trump said that action stopped unrest and ensured the city’s readiness to host the 2028 Summer Olympics. “They would have ripped down that city,” he said, hinting that similar deployments may be necessary in other cities experiencing unrest or spikes in crime.

In Washington, Trump’s broader plan has involved federal law enforcement assistance and a proposed $2 billion “beautification” initiative to remove graffiti, fix roads, and improve public spaces. He has also voiced interest in reshaping D.C.’s cultural institutions, criticizing what he describes as a growing “woke” influence in the city’s museums.

Washington’s status under the 1973 Home Rule Act gave Trump the authority to assume temporary control over the Metropolitan Police Department. Expanding this kind of federal action to other cities would require congressional approval. Trump now plans to ask Congress for a national “crime bill” based on the D.C. model, aiming to use it as a legislative framework for cities nationwide.