President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek the death penalty for murders in Washington, as part of a crackdown on what he calls out-of-control crime in the US capital."If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington DC, we're going to be seeking the death penalty," Trump said at a cabinet meeting in the White House."It's a very strong preventative and everybody that's heard it agrees with it," Trump said at a cabinet meeting.The death penalty move comes after Republican Trump deployed the National Guard to Democrat-run Washington and took federal control of the city's police department earlier this month.Washington -- formally known as the District of Columbia -- abolished the death penalty in 1981.The US capital has a unique legal status as it is not a state and operates under a relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters.Trump used this loophole to send the National Guard into Washington earlier this month to combat what he said was runaway crime and homelessness.On Monday he boasted of a days-long streak without murders in the city and said he was also taking steps to beautify the capital, which is home to the White House, the US Capitol and other key institutions.National Guard troops began carrying weapons in Washington on Sunday.Trump says he is considering similar moves for other Democrat-run cities including Chicago, New York and Baltimore.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.&nbsp;

Following his federal takeover of Washington's police department, President Donald Trump has announced his administration will seek the death penalty for all murder cases in the US capital.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek the death penalty for murders in Washington, as part of a crackdown on what he calls out-of-control crime in the US capital. "If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington DC, we're going to be seeking the death penalty," Trump said at a cabinet meeting in the White House. "It's a very strong preventative and everybody that's heard it agrees with it," Trump said at a cabinet meeting. The death penalty move comes after Republican Trump deployed the National Guard to Democrat-run Washington and took federal control of the city's police department earlier this month. Washington -- formally known as the District of Columbia -- abolished the death penalty in 1981. The US capital has a unique legal status as it is not a state and operates under a relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters. Trump used this loophole to send the National Guard into Washington earlier this month to combat what he said was runaway crime and homelessness. On Monday he boasted of a days-long streak without murders in the city and said he was also taking steps to beautify the capital, which is home to the White House, the US Capitol and other key institutions. National Guard troops began carrying weapons in Washington on Sunday. Trump says he is considering similar moves for other Democrat-run cities including Chicago, New York and Baltimore. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Following his federal takeover of Washington's police department, President Donald Trump has announced his administration will seek the death penalty for all murder cases in the US capital.

Trump vows death penalty for murders in Washington DC, reiterates crime ‘out of control’

President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Washington, D.C., has become the “most safe” city in the entire world just in the span of a few days, asserting it to be a big change from the “most unsafe” city. Trump claimed that Washington, DC, city officials deflated crime figures “in order to create a false illusion of safety” before his crackdown began a week ago. Trump said in a post on his social media Truth Social, “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!”&nbsp;“Until 4 days ago, Washington, D.C., was the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World. Now, in just a short period of time, it is perhaps the safest, and getting better every single hour!”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘People are flocking to D.C. again’</h2>&nbsp;“People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!” he continued.&nbsp;Last week, Trump announced that he would be deploying National Guard troops in the US capital and taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The district has been plagued by crime in the years following the pandemic, though data indicates that the crime rate has been falling over the last two years.&nbsp;However, it is not clear what Trump really implied when he claimed that D.C. was the most dangerous city in the United States.&nbsp;DC officials have pointed to a database showing violent crime hitting a 30-year low in January of this year.&nbsp;<h2>400 arrests, committed to making D.C. safe again: Pam Bondi</h2>&nbsp;Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Monday that nearly 400 arrests have been made since President Trump declared a public safety emergency in the District and activated National Guard troops to assist local law enforcement.&nbsp;Bondi posted on X, “Washington, DC is getting safer every night thanks to our law enforcement partners.”“Just this weekend, 137 arrests were made and 21 illegal firearms were seized. In total, there have been nearly 400 arrests—and we are not slowing down. We are committed to making D.C. safe again,” she said.

The Trump administration has also begun clearing homeless encampments across Washington, D.C., as part of its public safety push amid reports that hundreds of additional National Guard troops are expected to arrive in the coming days.

President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that Washington, D.C., has become the “most safe” city in the entire world just in the span of a few days, asserting it to be a big change from the “most unsafe” city. Trump claimed that Washington, DC, city officials deflated crime figures “in order to create a false illusion of safety” before his crackdown began a week ago. Trump said in a post on his social media Truth Social, “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!” “Until 4 days ago, Washington, D.C., was the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World. Now, in just a short period of time, it is perhaps the safest, and getting better every single hour!”

The Trump administration has also begun clearing homeless encampments across Washington, D.C., as part of its public safety push amid reports that hundreds of additional National Guard troops are expected to arrive in the coming days.

‘Fake crime numbers’: Trump says DC has turned into the most safe city in world

The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday (August 14) that after the US President Donald Trump announced federal takeover of the Washington police, all 800 National Guard troops ordered to the capital have been mobilaside. "As of today, all 800 Army and Air National Guardsmen are mobilised, as part of Joint Task Force DC, and they are now here in our capital," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told journalists.&nbsp;They "will assist the DC Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and officers," and traffic control posts, Wilson added. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bitcoin-included-in-retirement-plans-as-regulations-advances-1755206972745/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/bitcoin-included-in-retirement-plans-as-regulations-advances-1755206972745/embed</a>&nbsp;She said the guards will be deployed "until law and order has been restored in the District, as determined by the president." It is the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor.<h2>Multiple arrests</h2>The White House said that 45 people were arrested in Washington last night, including 29 living in the country illegally, and that over 1,650 people are now participating in the law enforcement operation.<h2>Trump claims crime in Washington ‘worst it's ever been'</h2>Speaking from the Oval Office, the American president said that crime in Washington, DC, is the "worst it's ever been." He reiterated his claim, without providing any evidence to support the statement. Meanwhile, the data from the US Justice Department showed that DC has experienced a 30-year low in violent crime in 2024. The US president even said that DC officials have created fake statistics that show the rate of violent crime declining in the city. He added that they are “under investigation”, but didn’t name anyone specifically. “They’re phony crime stats, and Washington DC is at its worst point, and it will soon be at its best point,” he quipped. He described the situation as “tragic” and an “epidemic”.

The Pentagon confirmed that after the US President Donald Trump announced federal takeover of the Washington police, all 800 National Guard troops ordered to the capital have been mobilaside.

The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday (August 14) that after the US President Donald Trump announced federal takeover of the Washington police, all 800 National Guard troops ordered to the capital have been mobilaside. "As of today, all 800 Army and Air National Guardsmen are mobilised, as part of Joint Task Force DC, and they are now here in our capital," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told journalists. They "will assist the DC Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities and officers," and traffic control posts, Wilson added. https://www.wionews.com/videos/bitcoin-included-in-retirement-plans-as-regulations-advances-1755206972745/embed She said the guards will be deployed "until law and order has been restored in the District, as determined by the president." It is the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor. Multiple arrests The White House said that 45 people were arrested in Washington last night, including 29 living in the country illegally, and that over 1,650 people are now participating in the law enforcement operation. Trump claims crime in Washington ‘worst it's ever been' Speaking from the Oval Office, the American president said that crime in Washington, DC, is the "worst it's ever been." He reiterated his claim, without providing any evidence to support the statement. Meanwhile, the data from the US Justice Department showed that DC has experienced a 30-year low in violent crime in 2024. The US president even said that DC officials have created fake statistics that show the rate of violent crime declining in the city. He added that they are “under investigation”, but didn’t name anyone specifically. “They’re phony crime stats, and Washington DC is at its worst point, and it will soon be at its best point,” he quipped. He described the situation as “tragic” and an “epidemic”.

The Pentagon confirmed that after the US President Donald Trump announced federal takeover of the Washington police, all 800 National Guard troops ordered to the capital have been mobilaside.

‘800 National Guardsmen are mobilised’ in Washington: Pentagon confirms