Trump Declares State of Emergency in Washington, D.C.

Darwin, Aug 12 — Amid accusations of authoritarianism, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

Citing rising crime, on Monday he authorized the Justice Department to take control of the capital’s local law enforcement agencies. At the same time, Trump instructed the Pentagon to deploy 800 National Guard troops to the city.

According to Reuters, in response to Trump’s move, protesters gathered a few blocks from the White House, booing loudly and making their opposition clear.

Trump claimed that the surge in crime in D.C. was threatening federal operations. Protesters, however, called it a mere pretext — an undisclosed plan to tighten control over the capital.

Kea Chatterjee, executive director of the rights group Free DC, said Trump’s move was a direct assault on the rights of long-neglected D.C. residents and would only heighten tensions.

“This is more than unprecedented,” she said. “It’s pure authoritarianism.”

Residents of Washington, D.C. have long been denied full political rights, as it is not a state but a federal district. The 1973 Home Rule Act grants limited self-governance, but Congress retains authority over local laws and the budget.

D.C. is a majority-Black city, which adds further complexity to its civil rights struggles. Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton described Trump’s decision as “the ultimate example of injustice and rights violations,” calling it a cynical tactic to achieve political goals.

Protesters argued that the decision proved they had no say in their own security or governance.

Twenty-year-old college student Amari Jack, present at the protest, said, “I see this as the beginning of a full takeover of the city. Trump has been talking for years about gaining full control over D.C., but to do so, Congress would have to repeal the Home Rule Act.”

“I’m here today because I fear that even D.C.’s small degree of autonomy will be lost,” Jack added. “We want to represent ourselves, to uplift our own community. We don’t want the President running our city.”

In declaring the emergency, Trump blamed the local government for policing and security failures, saying that high crime rates posed an unacceptable risk to federal activities.

Trump vowed to rid the city of criminals, drug dealers, and the homeless — but did not outline how he intended to do so.

Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said, “This move is unprecedented, unnecessary, and illegal.” He argued that there was no such crime crisis in reality.

He noted that violent crime in D.C. fell by 35% from 2023 to 2024 and has dropped by another 26% so far this year.

Protester Radha Tanner and others accused Trump of using crime prevention as a pretext for political gain.

They believe Trump aims to portray Washington, D.C., along with other Democrat-run cities, as crime-ridden and “unsafe” in order to push a different political message.