ISTANBUL

A crowd that gathered in front of the White House on Monday protested US President Donald Trump's decision to bring Washington, D.C. police under federal authority and deploy National Guard troops in the capital, NBC reported Monday.

Protesters carried banners that read, "Hands off DC!" "No fascist takeover of DC" and "DC says freedom not fascism," according to the media outlet.

"I've lived IN DC for 10 years and never felt unsafe. Get your hands off our city," one banner said.

Meanwhile, the Washington, D.C. City Council condemned Trump's plans.

"This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority. Violent crime in the District is at the lowest rates we've seen in 30 years," the council said in a statement. "Federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department is unwarranted because there is no Federal emergency."

Earlier, Trump had announced that he would put local police under federal control and deploy 800 National Guard troops to deal with the "public safety emergency."

He claimed Washington "has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" and declared Monday "liberation day in D.C."

"This is liberation day in DC, and we're going to take our capital back," Trump said, adding that more troops could be deployed to the city "if needed."