23 arrests made in US capital after Trump federalizes DC police: White House

WASHINGTON

A total of 23 people were taken into custody after President Donald Trump federalized police in the US capital, the White House said Tuesday.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the arrests were made for a variety of offenses, including homicide, drug crimes, fare evasion, driving under the influence and other crimes. Six illegal handguns were also recovered, she said.

"This is only the beginning," Leavitt told reporters at the White House. "Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the district who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law abiding Americans."

It is unclear how the number of arrests compares to an average night before the Metropolitan Police Department was taken under federal control, but Leavitt said roughly 850 officers and federal agents were deployed to Washington, D.C.'s streets Monday night.

Trump has also authorized the deployment of the National Guard to the city, but it is unclear if any troops have yet made their way to Washington after Monday's announcement.

"This is liberation day in D.C., and we're going to take our capital back. We're taking it back," Trump had said Monday. "I'm deploying the National Guard to help re-establish law and order and public safety in Washington, D.C., and they're going to be allowed to do their job properly."

The president's allegations of soaring crime in the nation's capital are at stark odds with the city's official crime data, however.

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."

Trump said he would be deploying 800 National Guard troops to the US capital, and held the door open to sending even more, saying "we will bring in the military if needed."