Donald Trump has threatened to bring the US capital under federal control over “out of control” crime rates in the city.
In a lengthy social media tirade on Tuesday, the President said: “Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 years old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming and shooting innocent citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.”
Alongside the post, he included a picture of a young man seated on the ground covered in blood, afer an apparent assault by teenagers.
Elon Musk, a former ally of Trump, also revealed one of his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) employees had recently been beaten up by a gang of teenagers after he rushed to help a woman who was being threatened in her car.
The juvenile arrest rate in DC is nearly double the national average, with a mean rate of 2,235 cases per year between 2016 and 2022.
Locals in the city regularly report feeling unsafe, with groups of teens known to threaten passers-by.
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Trump included a picture of a young man seated on the ground covered in blood, having apparently been assaulted by teenagers
In February 2024, District Councillor Robert White Jr warned: “We see a surge of young people engaging in serious crime.
“We are seeing kids as young as nine and 10 getting involved in carjackings.”
Since July 7, there has been a curfew in place for those under the age of 18, meaning they are not allowed in public places or District establishments during curfew hours.
The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Act is in place until August 31, and sets curfew hours as between 11pm and 6am, seven days a week.
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The US President has made similar threats against New York City
If children are found out after the curfew, they are taken to a DC facility – normally either a police station or a Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services centre, until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian.
They might also be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service, and their parent or guardian may be handed a fine of up to $500 (£367).
The emergency bill also gives DC Police Chief Pamela Smith the power to introduce temporary “extended juvenile curfew zones”, meaning a curfew would start even earlier, and run for four days at a time.
In these cases, children under the age of 18 would be banned from gathering in groups of nine of more after 8pm.
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The emergency bill gives DC Police Chief Pamela Smith (pictured) the power to introduce temporary ‘extended juvenile curfew zones’
Trump has also threatened a federal takeover of New York City in a fiery White House Cabinet meeting.
Asked about the upcoming mayoral elections in the city, Trump laid into hard-left Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani.
The New Yorker US President said: “If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same.
“But we have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to,” Trump jabbed.
