US President Donald Trump on Sunday pledged to remove homeless people from Washington, DC, and imprison criminals, despite the city’s mayor disputing claims of rising crime.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
He also shared images showing tents and littered streets in the city, adding, “I’m going to make our capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.”
“It’s all going to happen very fast, just like the Border. We went from millions pouring in, to ZERO in the last few months. This will be easier — Be prepared! There will be no MR. NICE GUY. We want our Capital BACK,” he added.
Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference Monday focused on “stopping violent crime in Washington, DC.” However, it remains unclear if details about the eviction plan will be announced then.
MAYOR BOWSER REFUTES TRUMP’S CLAIM
Washington’s Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser, pushed back against Trump’s remarks on Sunday. Appearing on MSNBC’s The Weekend, she said, “It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023. We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low.”
Bowser noted Trump is “very aware” of the city’s cooperation with federal law enforcement after their meeting in the Oval Office weeks ago.
HOMELESSNESS IN DC
The Community Partnership, a local organisation addressing homelessness, estimates about 3,782 single adults experience homelessness on any given night in Washington, a city with a population of roughly 700,000. Most are housed in emergency shelters or transitional facilities, while approximately 800 remain unsheltered.
In response to a violent attack on a Trump administration staffer, the White House confirmed deploying 450 federal law enforcement officers across the city last weekend. Officials reported investigations into incidents including unlicensed pistol carrying, driving with suspended licences, and illegal dirt bike riding.
Meanwhile, according to the city’s police department’s data, a 26% drop in violent crime in the first seven months of 2025 compared with last year, alongside a 7% decline in overall crime.
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With inputs from Reuters