Violence is 'out of control' in Washington

VERIFICATION – Donald Trump announced new security measures in Washington, D.C., on Monday, including the deployment of the National Guard. The president justified his decision by claiming that crime is now "out of control" in the U.S. capital. Official statistics show this to be false.

A little context

At a press conference Monday morning, Donald Trump announced the deployment of 800 National Guard soldiers to the streets of Washington.

The president also indicated that the federal government would take control of the city's police force, since the Democratic government in the capital was unable to resolve the situation.

The White House tenant also called for 14-year-olds to be tried as adults from now on, claiming that Washington was overrun by gangs of "young criminals."

Donald Trump used the same rhetoric when he sent National Guard troops into the streets of Los Angeles last June as part of protests that rocked the city.

The president's latest announcements come after a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was allegedly beaten while attempting to stop a carjacking less than 3 kilometers from the White House on August 5.

• Also read: The story of the dangerous triple murderer released by Donald Trump: “A horrible human being”

The Lie – Crime is 'Out of Control' in Washington

Last week, Donald Trump claimed that crime in Washington had spiraled "out of control." He said young "thugs" and "gang members" no longer hesitated to attack "randomly innocent citizens" in the capital.

He repeated these claims at a press conference Monday morning.

“The situation is out of control. I am announcing a historic measure to save our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, chaos, misery, and worse. This is Liberation Day in Washington, and we will take back our capital,” he said.

The facts

In 2023, Washington saw a rise in murders and violent crimes, making the capital one of the deadliest cities in the country.

However, these crimes have since declined sharply.

The number of homicides recorded in the district fell to 190 in 2024, from 274 in 2023.

Shootings also fell by about 30% in 2024, part of a general decline in all crime categories, according to official police data.

The trend continued in 2025, as police statistics show that homicides, robberies and burglaries are down compared to the same period in 2024.

Overall, violent crime also decreased by 26% compared to the same period last year.

Washington police have made about 900 juvenile arrests this year, down nearly 20 percent from the same period in 2024.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the president's actions, saying the city is currently experiencing its "lowest level of violent crime in 30 years."

− With information from AFP and the Washington Post

Donald Trump has been telling a frenzied list of lies since returning to the White House. To help you separate fact from fiction, our reporter Gabriel Ouimet analyzes the president's misleading claims each week in his series "The Lie Detector."