WASHINGTON 

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called US President Donald Trump's decision to put the city's Metropolitan Police Department under federal control "unsettling and unprecedented" but added that residents should not be "totally surprised" given his past rhetoric.

“While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can’t say that ... we’re totally surprised,” Bowser told reporters during a news conference after Trump announced the takeover alongside the deployment of National Guard troops to the US capital.

“I can say to D.C. residents that we will continue to operate our government in a way that makes you proud. We will balance our budgets. We will deploy our services. Our kids are going to start school on Aug. 25, and we will work with the federal government to do the things that they should do for our city.”

Bowser suggested Trump’s perception of the city stems from his first term in office during the COVID-19 pandemic. While acknowledging a post-pandemic crime spike, she said city leaders acted quickly to pass laws and adopt tactics that reduced violent crime.

“We have been able to reverse that 2023 crime spike,” she said.

Trump claimed that Washington has been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals,” calling Monday “liberation day” in the capital. He cited Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act to justify assuming control of the police force for up to 30 days, naming Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the department.

The president said he would deploy 800 National Guard troops and hinted at possible military involvement if needed. He vowed to clear homeless encampments from public parks and suggested the strategy could be replicated in other cities.

D.C. police reported a 26% decrease in violent crime overall compared to the same point in 2024. There has been a further 7% decrease in property crimes, such as burglary and theft. Trump alleged that the figures are "phony."

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said she met with federal liaisons to coordinate operations.

“It’s very, very important for me to ensure that not only do we work collaboratively with our federal partners, but we offer up areas across our city where we can work with them,” she said.