Trump Vows to Clear Homeless from Washington, D.C., Sparking Clash with Mayor Over Crime and City Image
US President Donald Trump has intensified his crackdown on homelessness and crime in Washington, D.C., pledging to forcibly relocate homeless individuals “far” from the nation’s capital.
Speaking ahead of a planned Monday news conference, Trump declared his determination to restore safety and order to the city — a move that has drawn sharp rebuke from Mayor Muriel Bowser and sparked widespread debate.
In a forceful post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump insisted, “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.” Accompanying the message were stark images of tents and debris that Trump used to underline his argument for urgent action.
While the president’s plan remains vague, it echoes his 2022 proposal to relocate homeless populations to “high quality” tent cities on affordable land outside urban centers, offering access to sanitation and medical services.
Last month, Trump signed an order easing the arrest of homeless individuals, and last week, federal law enforcement agents, including the FBI and US Marshals, were deployed in the city to address what Trump described as “totally out of control” crime.
The mayor, a Democrat, pushed back strongly against the White House’s portrayal of Washington, D.C. She refuted claims of a recent crime surge, stating on MSNBC, “We are not experiencing a crime spike. We have driven down violent crime to a 30-year low.” She also criticized a senior White House official’s controversial comparison of D.C. to war-torn Baghdad, calling it “hyperbolic and false.”
Indeed, while the capital’s homicide rate remains higher than many US cities, federal data indicate that overall violent crime—including assaults, robberies, and carjackings—fell to a 30-year low last year.
Still, concerns persist, fueled in part by recent high-profile violent incidents, such as the alleged attempted carjacking of a 19-year-old former government employee, which Trump highlighted with a graphic social media post.
The Washington Post and CNN have echoed similar reports, emphasizing the complex balance between acknowledging ongoing crime challenges and recognizing recent improvements in public safety metrics.
Both outlets have highlighted the tensions between the federal government and local authorities over jurisdiction and control.
As a federal district, Washington, D.C. is unique in that the federal government holds significant authority over local law enforcement and property. Trump has even threatened to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department, a move Mayor Bowser dismissed as legally unfeasible under current conditions.
With approximately 3,782 homeless residents in a city of 700,000—about 800 living on the streets—nonprofits warn that sweeping removals risk worsening humanitarian conditions.
Community Partnership, a local homelessness organization, stressed the need for compassionate, sustainable solutions rather than forced displacement.
Trump’s aggressive stance reflects his broader pattern of confrontations with Democratic-led cities over law enforcement and public order.
Recently, similar tensions unfolded in Los Angeles following the deployment of National Guard troops to manage unrest, underscoring a growing national debate over urban safety and governance.
The president’s upcoming announcement is expected to outline further steps toward his vision of a “safer and more beautiful” capital, but already, the divide between federal and local leaders highlights the challenges of addressing complex social issues in America’s political heartland.
