Trump to take to the streets with the military: Do a job
Johan Edgar
Donald Trump says in a radio interview that he is going to "go to work" on the streets of Washington DC.
- I'm going out tonight. With the police, I think, and with the military of course, says the president according to The New
Shortly after 11 pm Swedish time, Donald Trump left the White House together with, among others, Attorney General Pam Bondi and advisor Stephen Miller.
Later, pictures came of the president greeting personnel from various federal police agencies and soldiers from the National Guard at the park police premises in the capital.
Banged pots
- We're going to do it safely and then we're going to other places. But we're going to stay here for a while, Trump said
Earlier in the day, Trump said he plans to accompany the National Guard and the police out into Washington on Thursday evening.
- We have a job to do. The National Guard is great, they do a great job, he said.
Trump also said he is planning a "beautification program" for the capital that includes nicer parks.
- I'm very good on lawns.
While he was speaking, a group of peaceful protesters gathered outside. They banged pots and pans and shouted "Free DC", writes The New York Times.
Huge security effort
But accompanying soldiers on patrol in the city at night could mean significantly worse protests.
According to the NYT, the White House has not released any details about what a presidential visit to the city will look like. The newspaper writes that such an event would require unusually high security planning.
It would also be necessary to take into account that large numbers of demonstrators dissatisfied with the military buildup in the city would take to the streets to protest when they find out that Donald Trump would be on the streets.
According to sources to CNN, his Secret Service bodyguard had no advance information about Trump's plans before he announced it on the radio.
Majority is against
A survey conducted by the Washington Post shows that a large majority of residents in the city are against the military presence.
When Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the troops and offered them hamburgers on Wednesday, they were met with boos and protests.
National Guard troops from several states have been sent to the capital in the past week to, according to Trump, “save Washington from criminal gangs that are rampaging on the streets.” The local police have also been placed under federal control.
In the interview with conservative radio host Todd Starnes in Tennessee, Trump complained that he is being called a dictator even though he “sorted out crime in four days” in Washington, DC.
“People are so happy”
– People used to get robbed everywhere. People are so happy, they’re going out to restaurants again, the president says.
At the same time, local media reports that restaurant reservations in Washington have dropped by almost a third since National Guard soldiers and personnel from various federal police forces increased their presence in the capital.
Washington, DC’s special status as the capital without being part of a state gives the president special powers to take control of the police for 30 days without the consent of Congress.
According to local authorities, the number of reported violent crimes in Washington, DC is the lowest in 30 years.
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