The president has now wrapped up his press conference, so here’s a recap of some the key points
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Trump is placing Washington DC police under federal control and deploying the national guard. He said he was taking “historic action” to combat crime and homelessness in the US capital by invoking a section of the DC Home Rule Act, which allows him to place the DC Metropolitan police department under direct federal control. This provision would typically last for 48 hours, but Trump suggested that this could last longer. He added that he’ll be “making the appropriate notifications to Congress and to the mayor”, possibly referring to the rule’s requirement that the relevant congressional committee members on DC legislative matters are informed if he extends the provision beyond two days.
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Trump was joined by key members of his cabinet, including attorney general, Pam Bondi, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI director Kash Patel, secretary of the interior Doug Burgum, and newly-minted US attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro. Trump said that the police, under Bondi’s direction, would “immediately begin massive enforcement operations targeting known gangs, drug dealers and criminal networks to get them the hell off the street”.
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Trump said that there will be 800 national guardsmen assisting local law enforcement to start, but that number would increase if necessary. DC doesn’t have control over its own national guard, unlike other states. Instead, the troops are under the command of the president.
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Trump declared, repeatedly, that there is a “public safety emergency” in DC. However, violent crime in the capital hit a 30-year-low in 2024, according to the justice department.
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The president also vowed to remove homeless encampments throughout DC. He said that while the administration would “help them as much as you can help”, people experiencing homelessness in the city would “not be allowed to turn out capital into a wasteland”.
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Throughout the press conference, Trump and his team decried – what they claim is – overall weakness within the criminal justice system. The president said that DC’s “no cash bail” policy was a “disaster”, and said he would count on Republicans in Congress to help “change the statute”.
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Pirro added that that the juvenile justice system in the city was too lenient. “I can’t arrest them. I can’t prosecute them,” she said. “They go to family court, and they get to do yoga and arts and crafts. Enough, it changes today.”
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The president also took questions on his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska. He said that while Volodymyr Zelenskyy wouldn’t be a part of the summit, he would speak to him as soon as he saw a “fair deal” for a ceasefire emerge. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of a future trading relationship with Russia.
Key events
White House confirms federal takeover of DC police expected to last 30 days
A White House official confirms to the Guardian that the federal takeover of the DC Metropolitan police department is expected to be in effect for 30 days.
The official added that this would be “subject to change” consistent with the task force’s operations.
Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act stipulates that this would be the maximum length for a federal takeover, before requiring a joint resolution in Congress to extend the 30-day limit.
US-China trade truce deadline looms threatening escalation of economic tensions
Michael Sainato
A trade truce between the US and China was set to expire on Tuesday, threatening an escalation of economic tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Chinese officials said they hoped the United States would strive for “positive” trade outcomes on Monday, as the 90-day detente reached between the two countries in May was due to expire.
“We hope that the US will work with China to follow the important consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state … and strive for positive outcomes on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit,” a foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, said in a statement.
Chinese and US officials said they expected the pause to be extended after the most recent round of trade talks held last month in Stockholm. Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, said last week the US had “the makings” of a trade deal with China and that he was optimistic about a path forward.
Donald Trump has yet to confirm any extension to the pause. “We’ll see what happens,” he told reporters on Monday. “They’ve been dealing quite nicely — the relationship is very good with President Xi and myself.”
Failure to reach a deal would have major consequences. Trump had threatened tariffs on China as high as 245% with China threatening retaliatory tariffs of 125%, setting off a trade war between the world’s largest economies.
Federal takeover of Washington DC police intended to last for 30 days – report
The New York Times is reporting that the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is intended to last for 30 days, citing a White House official.
Here is the full text of Donald Trump’s presidential memorandum “Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia”.
Section 1. Background. As President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the District of Columbia National Guard, it is my solemn duty to protect law-abiding citizens from the destructive forces of criminal activity. That obligation applies with special force in our Nation’s capital, where, as Commander in Chief of the District of Columbia National Guard, I must also ensure that all citizens can avail themselves of the right to interact with their elected representatives, and that the Federal Government can properly function, without fear of being subjected to violent, menacing street crime.
The local government of the District of Columbia has lost control of public order and safety in the city, as evidenced by the two embassy staffers who were murdered in May, the Congressional intern who was fatally shot a short distance from the White House in June, and the Administration staffer who was mercilessly beaten by a violent mob days ago. Citizens, tourists, and staff alike are unable to live peacefully in the Nation’s capital, which is under siege from violent crime. It is a point of national disgrace that Washington, D.C., has a violent crime rate that is higher than some of the most dangerous places in the world. It is my duty to our citizens and Federal workers to secure the safety and the peaceful functioning of our Nation, the Federal Government, and our city.
Sec. 2. Mobilizing the District of Columbia National Guard. Pursuant to my authority under the Constitution and laws of the United States and the District of Columbia, I direct the Secretary of Defense to mobilize the District of Columbia National Guard and order members to active service, in such numbers as he deems necessary, to address the epidemic of crime in our Nation’s capital. The mobilization and duration of duty shall remain in effect until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia. Further, I direct the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with State Governors and authorize the orders of any additional members of the National Guard to active service, as he deems necessary and appropriate, to augment this mission.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Following Trump’s press conference, the Democratic Mayors Association released the following statement:
Let’s be clear: Crime is down in most major cities – including Washington, DC – in spite of Donald Trump, not because of him. If Trump actually cared about reducing crime, he wouldn’t have made unprecedented cuts to public safety programs that actually work. If Trump actually cared about our communities, he would be working with our cities, not against them. But the truth is Trump doesn’t care – he only wants to create yet another political charade to serve his own interests and distract Americans from his failures. While Trump may try to vilify Mayors and take credit for their work, Democratic Mayors will never stop fighting to protect and strengthen our communities because that’s what they do – they get things done.
Trump says he’ll know ‘in first two minutes’ of Putin meeting whether a deal can be made
David Smith
During that press conference, Donald Trump previewed his Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin, claiming he will know “probably in the first two minutes” whether a peace deal can be made. The US president told reporters:
I am going in to speak to Vladimir Putin and I will be telling him you have to end this war. You have to end it. And he wasn’t going to mess with me.
I thought it was very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country as opposed to us going to his country or even a third party place. [Though Trump did earlier get geographically confused on this point.]
He confirmed that there were no plans for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to attend but Trump intends to call him straight after.
We’re going to see what the parameters are – then I’m going to call up President Zelensky and the European leaders right after the meeting and I’m going to tell them what kind of a deal … It’s not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both.
Ominously, however, he complained about the Ukrainian president and referred once again to “land swapping”:
I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying I have to get constitutional approval. He has approval to go to war and kill everybody but he needs approval to do a land swap because there will be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia.
I get along with Zelenskyy but, you know, I disagree with what he has done. Very, very severely disagree. This is a war that shouldn’t have happened.
Reverting to his previous mindset as a property developer, Trump acknowledged that Russia had taken some “oceanfront property” and promised:
We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine.
There will be some changes in land … Russia has taken some very prime territory. They’ve taken largely ocean – in real estate we call it oceanfront property – that’s always the most valuable property.
During last year’s election campaign, Trump promised to end the war on his first day in office. But on Monday he conceded that he might walk away with nothing resolved.
I’m going to meet President Putin and we’re going to see what he has in mind and if it’s a fair deal … I may say lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say we can make a deal.
Probably in the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made.
A reporter asked: “How will you know that?”
Trump replied: “Because that’s what I do – I make deals.”
Then, despite getting it right earlier in the briefing, for the second time on Monday Trump said: “We’re going to Russia.” For those keeping up, the meeting will be held in the US state of Alaska.
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has invited Donald Trump to join emergency virtual talks with EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, as European demands grow that the US president agree red lines before Friday’s summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin.
Neither Zelenskyy nor European leaders have been invited to Trump’s meeting with the Russian president.
Merz’s office said in a statement that the virtual talks would focus on “further options for action to put pressure on Russia” and “preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security”.
It is not clear whether or not Trump has accepted the invitation to the call.
David Smith
There was another once unthinkable spectacle when Jeanine Pirro, a controversial former Fox News host, stood behind the lectern bearing the presidential seal.
Now the US attorney for the District of Columbia, Pirro told reporters:
We need to recognise that the people who matter are the law-abiding citizens – and it starts today … President Trump is going to make sure these emboldened criminals understand: we see you, we’re watching you, and we’re going to change the law to catch you.
Pirro, a longtime personal friend of Donald Trump, added:
We need to go after the DC council and their absurd laws.
The president has now wrapped up his press conference, so here’s a recap of some the key points
-
Trump is placing Washington DC police under federal control and deploying the national guard. He said he was taking “historic action” to combat crime and homelessness in the US capital by invoking a section of the DC Home Rule Act, which allows him to place the DC Metropolitan police department under direct federal control. This provision would typically last for 48 hours, but Trump suggested that this could last longer. He added that he’ll be “making the appropriate notifications to Congress and to the mayor”, possibly referring to the rule’s requirement that the relevant congressional committee members on DC legislative matters are informed if he extends the provision beyond two days.
-
Trump was joined by key members of his cabinet, including attorney general, Pam Bondi, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI director Kash Patel, secretary of the interior Doug Burgum, and newly-minted US attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro. Trump said that the police, under Bondi’s direction, would “immediately begin massive enforcement operations targeting known gangs, drug dealers and criminal networks to get them the hell off the street”.
-
Trump said that there will be 800 national guardsmen assisting local law enforcement to start, but that number would increase if necessary. DC doesn’t have control over its own national guard, unlike other states. Instead, the troops are under the command of the president.
-
Trump declared, repeatedly, that there is a “public safety emergency” in DC. However, violent crime in the capital hit a 30-year-low in 2024, according to the justice department.
-
The president also vowed to remove homeless encampments throughout DC. He said that while the administration would “help them as much as you can help”, people experiencing homelessness in the city would “not be allowed to turn out capital into a wasteland”.
-
Throughout the press conference, Trump and his team decried – what they claim is – overall weakness within the criminal justice system. The president said that DC’s “no cash bail” policy was a “disaster”, and said he would count on Republicans in Congress to help “change the statute”.
-
Pirro added that that the juvenile justice system in the city was too lenient. “I can’t arrest them. I can’t prosecute them,” she said. “They go to family court, and they get to do yoga and arts and crafts. Enough, it changes today.”
-
The president also took questions on his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Friday in Alaska. He said that while Volodymyr Zelenskyy wouldn’t be a part of the summit, he would speak to him as soon as he saw a “fair deal” for a ceasefire emerge. He also didn’t rule out the possibility of a future trading relationship with Russia.
Photos: people protest against the deployment of the national guard in DC on Monday
The president said earlier that “the number of carjackings has more than tripled, murders in 2023 reached the highest rate – probably ever.”
A quick fact check and some important context here. According to the non-partisan Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), the number of carjackings in DC did peak in June 2023. Their data comes from the DC Metropolitan police department.
But when you compare June 2023 to June 2025, carjackings actually fell by 75 %.
And on homicides, the city did experience a peak in August 2023, but that has fallen by 65% compared to June of this year.
Overall, the homicide rate in DC fell by 19% in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, according to CCJ.
Now, on the subject of Trump’s upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, the president confirms that Volodomyr Zelenskyy will not be part of Friday’s summit.
He adds “we’re going to see what he [Putin] has in mind,” and then will call Zelenskyy first “out of respect” if it’s a fair deal. He says that afterwards he’ll inform European Union leaders and Nato.
He goes on to say that there is a world where the US and Russia can be trading partners down the line, or if Friday’s meeting goes well.
“Russia has a very valuable piece of land, if Vladimir Putin would go toward business instead of toward war,” he says.
Trump on China deadline: ‘We’ll see what happens’
Pivoting, the president says “we’ll see what happens”, when it comes to the tariff deadline for China set for later today.
“They’ve been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi and myself.”
In response to a question about how personal the issue of crime and homelessness is to the president, Donald Trump says that he wants leaders or dignitaries to come through the capital “beautifully”. He adds, “if our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty, and they don’t respect us”.
