US President Donald Trump stated that homeless individuals need to "leave" Washington, DC, while pledging to address crime in the area, but the mayor countered the White House's comparison of the capital to Baghdad.
"We will provide you with accommodations, but DISTANT from the Capital," he posted on Sunday. The Republican president also announced a news conference for Monday regarding his intention to make the city "safer and more beautiful than it has ever been before."
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a member of the Democratic Party, stated: "We are not facing an increase in crime."
Last month, Trump issued an order simplifying the process to arrest homeless individuals, and last week, he directed federal law enforcement to patrol the streets of Washington,n DC.
"Homeless individuals must evacuate, IMMEDIATELY," Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday.
"We will provide you with accommodations, but DISTANT from the Capital." The offenders, there's no need for you to relocate. "We're going to place you in prison where you belong."
In addition to images of tents and debris, he stated: "There will be no 'MR. NICE GUY." We want our funds RETURNED. "Thank you for your consideration regarding this issue!"
The details of the president's strategy remain uncertain, but in a 2022 address, he suggested relocating homeless individuals to "high-quality" tents on affordable land beyond urban areas, while also offering access to restrooms and healthcare providers.
On Friday, Trump directed federal agents - including those from US Park Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the US Marshals Service - to enter Washington, DC, to address what he termed "completely out of control" crime rates.
A National Public Radio report indicated that a White House official stated that as many as 450 federal officers were sent out on Saturday night.
The action follows an incident where a 19-year-old former worker of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was attacked during an alleged carjacking attempt in Washington,n DC.
Trump expressed his frustration over the incident on social media, sharing an image of the injured victim.
Mayor Bowser stated to MSNBC on Sunday: "While we did experience a significant increase in crime in 2023, we are not in 2023 anymore."
"For the past two years, we have worked to reduce violent crime in this city, bringing it to its lowest level in 30 years."
She condemned White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller for calling the US capital "more dangerous than Baghdad."
"Any analogy to a country ravaged by war is exaggerated and incorrect," Bowser stated.
Washington, DC's per capita homicide rate continues to be comparatively high among US cities, with 98 murders documented so far this year. In the US capital, homicides have been on the rise compared to a decade ago.
However, federal data from January indicates that Washington,n DC posted its lowest total violent crime statistics last ye, including carjackings, assaults, and robberies, in three decades.
Trump announced a news conference at the White House on Monday to present their strategies for reducing violent crime in the US capital.
In a separate post on Sunday, he mentioned that the event at 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT) would focus on stopping "crime, murder, and death" in the city, along with its "physical renovation."
He characterized Bowser as "a decent person who has made attempts," noting that even with her efforts, crime keeps getting "worse" and the city grows "dirtier and less appealing."
Community Partnership, an organization focused on minimizing homelessness in Washington, DC, informed Reuters that the city, home to 700,000 residents, had roughly 3,782 people experiencing homelessness on any night.
The majority resided in public housing or emergency shelters, yet roughly 800 were classified as "homeless."
Washington, DC is governed by the federal government as a district instead of a state, which can supersede certain local laws.
The president manages federal land and structures in the city, but would require Congress to take federal authority over the district.
In recent days, he has claimed he would assume control of the Washington,n DC Metropolitan Police Department, which Bowser contended was unfeasible.
Bowser stated, "Our law includes specific provisions that would grant the president increased authority over our police department." "None of those circumstances are present in our city at this moment."
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