President Donald Trump dined with troops and federal agents dispatched to the streets of Washington, D.C., on Thursday evening, catering White House fare to law enforcement tasked with making “D.C. great again.”
Trump announced earlier Thursday that he planned to go on patrol with National Guard troops and law enforcement officers. In the evening, he visited a U.S. Park Police facility in Southeast D.C. The president brought with him burgers cooked by White House chefs and pizza from a local restaurant.
“You people are winners, and it’s such an honor to be with you,” said Trump. “We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C., Great Again. We’re making the country great again. The country is very close to being great. When they say it’s the hottest country in the world, they mean it. And this capital right now after four days, five days, it’s at a level you haven’t seen in a long time and it’s all because of you.”
“It’s an honor to be with you, and we’re always going to be with you for as long as I’m around. You’re going to be treated as nobody more important,” the president said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;You people are winners, and I just think it&#8217;s such an honor to be with you. We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C. Great Again,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to federal agents and National Guard soldiers.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll always be with you. We&#8217;re going to be with you for as long as I&#8217;m around.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/1GMzxyvdgX">pic.twitter.com/1GMzxyvdgX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958648554525786596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;I’ll eat with you, and we&#8217;re going to have a little fun. We’re gonna celebrate,” he added, “but then we&#8217;re going to get back to work and we&#8217;re going to take care of these criminals. We’re gonna put them where they have to be.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;You people are winners, and I just think it&#8217;s such an honor to be with you. We&#8217;re going to Make Washington, D.C. Great Again,&#8221; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to federal agents and National Guard soldiers.
&#8220;We&#8217;ll always be with you. We&#8217;re going to be with you for as long as I&#8217;m around.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/1GMzxyvdgX">pic.twitter.com/1GMzxyvdgX</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958648554525786596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump used emergency powers under the 1973 Home Rule Act earlier this month to take control of the D.C. police to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. Last year, Washington, D.C., <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/08/fact-yes-d-c-crime-is-out-of-control/">ranked</a> as the fourth most dangerous city for homicides per capita in the United States.
Trump also called in law enforcement from various agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to curb crime and arrest illegal aliens in the city. The president activated the D.C. National Guard and received members from several other states, as well. Roughly 2,000 National Guardsmen have been stationed around the city to protect federal buildings and monuments and deter crime.
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The Trump administration has bolstered the ranks of prosecutors, too, assigning 20 Judge Advocate General, or JAG, attorneys to the U.S. Attorney&#8217;s Office for Washington, D.C.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said Thursday that the nation’s capital sailed through a murder-free week under Trump’s crackdown on crime.
&#8220;[T]here have been no recorded homicides in the city for the past week,” public information officer Michael Russo told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/dc-has-murder-free-week-ag-bondi-touts-77-more-arrests-federal-takeover">Fox News</a>. &#8220;Our last recorded homicide was August 13th.&#8221;
Since Trump enacted his emergency powers on August 11, at least 630 people have been arrested and 86 illegal guns have been taken off the streets.

Donald Trump

President On Patrol: Trump Feeds Agents, Troops Making ‘D.C. Great Again’

President On Patrol: Trump Feeds Agents, Troops Making 'D.C. Great Again'

Crime

Executive

Law Enforcement

National Guard

Politics

Washington D.C.

President Trump told conservative talk show host Todd Starnes on Thursday that he <a href="https://x.com/toddstarnes/status/1958558198895436273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1958558198895436273%7Ctwgr%5Ec59d65d1c37ac27497715adc7e657d770b6af188%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnypost.com%2F2025%2F08%2F21%2Fus-news%2Ftrump-says-hell-patrol-dc-with-cops-military-tonight-as-part-of-his-crackdown-on-crime-in-the-city%2F">plans to join </a>D.C. cops and the military as they patrol the city tonight, consistent with his hands-on approach to the presidency in his second term.
“I’m going to be going out tonight, I think, with the police, and with the military, of course. So we’re going to do a job — the National Guard is great, they’ve done a fantastic job.”
A senior White House official said that the details of the evening were still being worked out.
His stunt was notably <a href="https://babylonbee.com/news/vigilante-justice-trump-dresses-up-as-bat-and-patrols-streets-of-dc">predicted</a> by the Babylon Bee a little over a week ago.
Social media users have already started to react. “There is NOBODY like Donald J. Trump. This is going to be amazing,” Eric Daugherty <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1958567744569258157">wrote</a>.
“Get your popcorn ready. Trump wants a first-hand look at how well the crime cleanup is going. I can’t wait,” Nick Sortor <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1958566896883716498">commented</a>. “Par for the course for the most hands-on President in modern U.S. history.”
This comes exactly two weeks after Trump called in the national guard in to help crack down on crime in D.C. Republican states have <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/6th-republican-led-state-sends-national-guard-troops/story?id=124787440">assisted</a> the president’s efforts by sending over some of their military members, bringing the total number of troops to around 2,000.
The National Guard is not making arrests at this time, according to the White House, although they may be armed for deterrence of violent crime and protection of federal assets and law enforcement officers.
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Residents are already saying that they feel <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/folks-in-d-c-already-feeling-safer-praise-trump-for-crime-crackdown">safer</a>, while crime rates have gone down in the city. “For the first time in a long time, D.C. has gone seven days without a homicide. Carjackings have decreased by 83%, robberies by 46%, car thefts by 21%, and overall violent crime is down 22%,” <a href="https://foxbaltimore.com/newsletter-daily/national-guards-presence-slashes-dc-crime-rates-with-seven-days-homicide-free">reports</a> Fox Baltimore.
So far, 630 arrests have been made, including the arrests of 251 aliens &#8212; many of whom possess outstanding warrants and convictions &#8212; and three known gang members. Last night alone saw 77 arrests, according to the White House.
Additionally, 86 illegal firearms have been seized, and one missing child has been recovered.
Yesterday, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also made a public appearance, when the two officials took members of the National Guard out to lunch at the Shake Shack in Union Station to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we7K6xygCmY">thank</a> them for their service.
President Trump has considered the idea of sending the National Guard to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/can-trump-send-national-guard-cities-around-us-2025-08-20/">other high-crime cities</a>.

Trump To Ride Along With Police Officers As They Make DC Safe Again

White House

Federal agents took down and arrested a man in Washington, D.C., who is in the United States illegally and was arrested last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a child.
A journalist from NBC Washington witnessed the arrest take place on the National Mall and posted a video of it online. The man, an illegal alien from Mexico, can be seen getting out of his car and appearing to attempt an escape from federal agents on foot before he is thrown to the ground and detained.
“I don’t owe anything! I don’t owe anything!” the man yells in Spanish, according to <a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/officers-detain-man-in-apparent-ice-enforcement-on-national-mall-as-he-screams-for-help/3977693/">NBC</a>. “Please! I’m not a criminal! I work here! I want to be with my family!”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BREAKING: Just saw DC Police + federal agents detain a man on the National Mall. He appeared to try to escape, then was quickly tackled to the ground by several agents + was screaming in Spanish “please, I’m not a criminal, I work here, I want to be with my family” <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcwashington?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nbcwashington</a> <a href="https://t.co/56IlXEvYbN">pic.twitter.com/56IlXEvYbN</a>
— Aimee Cho (@AimeeCho4) <a href="https://twitter.com/AimeeCho4/status/1958212673016898021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
The unlawfully present alien has been identified as David Perez-Teofani, 36. He has a court order to be deported from the United States, and has entered the country illegally at least three times, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The man was previously arrested in January of last year in Virginia on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 and indecent liberties with a child under 15. Prosecutors later dropped the charges.
“Yes, this illegal alien from Mexico was previously arrested in January 2024 in Fairfax County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13. Glad he is off of Washington DC’s streets thanks to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and ICE,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Perez-Teofani was later loaded into an SUV by federal agents.
“My family has papers! My family and my children! Please! Please!” he yelled.
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The D.C. police were put under federal control on August 11, followed by a court-approved deal that restored local command while keeping some federal oversight in place. The president cited out-of-control crime in his decision to exercise executive power to temporarily take control of the police force.
The White House has touted the results of Trump’s crime crackdown in the nation’s capital. 
“Thanks to President Trump’s bold actions to Make DC Safe Again, more than 550 dangerous criminals have been removed from the streets of our nation’s capital,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-white-house-touts-guns-drug-haul-removed-from-dc-streets-trumps-crime-blitz-nets-550-arrests">Fox News</a> on Wednesday.
&#8220;While the Fake News tried to sell a lie that D.C. was safe, these arrests reveal the truth,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;Hundreds of violent criminals have been arrested by federal law enforcement agents for carrying illegal weapons, distributing deadly drugs, committing armed robbery, and having ties to dangerous gangs like MS-13. President Trump is making DC safe again by enforcing the law and everyday Americans support his commonsense, tough-on-crime policies.&#8221; 
Hundreds of those arrested since Trump announced the liberation of Washington from crime have been illegal aliens. Through Tuesday, federal agents and D.C. police had arrested 465 people, with 206 of those, or 44%, being illegal aliens, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/trump-dc-immigration-raid-ab03b4bc">The Wall Street Journal</a>.

DEA patrol

DC Crime Crackdown: Feds Nab Illegal Alien Previously Charged With Child Sex Assault

Department of Homeland Security

Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Reporters and protesters flanked Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in Union Station on Thursday, peppering them with questions meant to criticize President Donald Trump&#8217;s efforts to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C. — and Vance quickly made it clear that he was not playing.
The three were touring Union Station to observe the progress that has been made since the Trump administration began its efforts.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨Happening Now: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary Hegseth, and Stephen Miller arrive at Union Station to view the progress of the clean up in Washington DC <a href="https://t.co/ol9o61Z8bQ">pic.twitter.com/ol9o61Z8bQ</a>
— William Martin (@VPCommsDir) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPCommsDir/status/1958208241969541495?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Vance, according to the pool report, stopped to thank the National Guardsmen who were present, saying, &#8220;You guys bust your ass all day and we give you hamburgers — not a fair trade but we’re grateful for everything you do.&#8221;
Speaking to the gathered reporters, Vance touted the success of their efforts thus far. &#8220;In the last nine days, we have seen a 35% crime decrease,&#8221; he said.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> “If you look at what has happened in Washington, D.C.
In the last nine days, WE HAVE SEEN A THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT CRIME DECREASE.” <a href="https://t.co/68TN6hsEfh">pic.twitter.com/68TN6hsEfh</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1958215203335664100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Once the three men opened the floor for questions, a reporter asked whether they&#8217;d be providing &#8220;evidence.&#8221;
&#8220;Are you going to be releasing evidence of this?&#8221; she asked.
Hegseth and Vance both appeared amused by the question.
&#8220;Of what?&#8221; Vance asked. &#8220;That D.C. has a terrible crime problem? You just gotta look around. Obviously, D.C. has a terrible crime problem. The Department of Justice statistics back it up. The FBI statistics back it up. Just talk to a resident of this city, this beautiful, great American city.&#8221;
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&#8220;Don&#8217;t they deserve — we talk about human rights, we hear these people outside screaming, &#8216;Free D.C.!&#8217; Let&#8217;s free D.C. from lawlessness. Let&#8217;s free Washington, D.C., from one of the highest murder rates in the entire world. Let&#8217;s free Washington, D.C., so that young families can walk around and feel safe and secure. That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re trying to free D.C. from.&#8221;
Referencing the protesters outside, he added, &#8220;As Stephen said, it&#8217;s kind of bizarre that we have a bunch of old, primarily white people who are out there protesting the policies that keep people safe when they’ve never felt danger in their entire lives.&#8221;

VP Vance And Defense Secretary Hegseth Visit Federal Law Enforcement Officers Patrolling At D.C.’s Union Station

JD Vance Shuts Down Reporter Who Demands ‘Evidence’ Of D.C.’s Crime Problem

D.C. Reporter Tries To Corner VP At Union Station, But Vance Is Not Playing

JD Vance

Media

In yet another frantic attempt to target the Trump administration, New York Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker seized on a local news story to challenge President Donald Trump’s claim that his militarized actions in Washington, D.C., made people feel safer dining out — insisting instead that restaurant traffic had actually declined.
One problem: the story was updated only hours later to reflect that there has been an upsurge in dining out in the city.
Referring to an <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/reservations-plunge-across-dc-restaurants-after-president-donald-trumps-police-takeover-summer-restaurant-week-district-open-table/65-e83cc2e7-a921-401a-ba35-960c77f8da14">article</a> from WUSA 9, Baker stated, “Restaurants in DC have seen the number of diners plummet more than 25% since he sent feds into the street.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trump claims his militarized takeover of DC has made people feel safer to go out to restaurants, but in fact restaurants in DC have seen the number of diners plummet more than 25% since he sent feds into the street. <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanOnRecord?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JordanOnRecord</a> <a href="https://t.co/Xhlkwlmdly">https://t.co/Xhlkwlmdly</a>
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterbakernyt/status/1957807668384453045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The author of the article, Jordan Fischer, had initially <a href="https://x.com/JordanOnRecord/status/1957151677070356567">tweeted</a>, “Reservations at D.C. restaurants dropped 16% YoY the day Trump announced his police takeover. The next day, 27%. By Day 3 they were down 31% compared to 2024. It couldn&#8217;t come at a worse time. D.C. Summer Restaurant Week starts&#8230; tomorrow.”
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But roughly three hours later, he updated the information by admitting, “UPDATE: A big show of support for the city&#8217;s restaurant industry on Monday. Reservations were up 29% YoY as the city kicked off its annual Summer Restaurant Week. The WH is claiming vindication after owners said the takeover hurt business.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
UPDATE: A big show of support for the city&#8217;s restaurant industry on Monday.
Reservations were up 29% YoY as the city kicked off its annual Summer Restaurant Week. The WH is claiming vindication after owners said the takeover hurt business. <a href="https://t.co/hX9VWfbHMt">https://t.co/hX9VWfbHMt</a>
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanOnRecord/status/1957921058788462786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The updated article, titled, “&#8217;Diners are showing up for the District&#8217; &#8211; Restaurant reservations rally as DC Summer Restaurant Week kicks off amid federal takeover,” stated that since Trump announced he would invoke the D.C. Home Rule Act and temporarily federalized the city’s police department, “At the same time, dining and bar attendance also dropped in the city, according to interviews conducted by WUSA9 and data from the website OpenTable. Year-over-year, reservations were down over the whole week by roughly 24% on average. &#8230; Restaurant and bar owners <a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dc-bars-crush-dance-bar-u-street/65-985addbd-7339-412b-b8eb-db506714923f">WUSA9 spoke with this weekend</a> said it’s clear to them the federal takeover has hurt their business.”
But the article also pointed out that “Summer Restaurant Week,” an annual event sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), started one week later than it had in 2024. “According to OpenTable, this year’s event saw a strong opening day – reservations were up 29% year-over-year compared to the same date in 2024,” the article acknowledged.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The article he linked to was updated and now says the opposite. Hilarious. NYT, what an institution. <a href="https://t.co/d5tGHtQsjK">https://t.co/d5tGHtQsjK</a>
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/kerpen/status/1958153165414830162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last week, Baker ripped President Trump for his efforts to clean up crime in Washington, D.C., prompting Grabien founder Tom Elliott to spearhead an effort to raise funds challenging Baker to walk the streets of D.C. at night — unarmed.
Baker posted the following statements on X: “Citing a nonexistent crime crisis, Trump plans to take over the Washington DC police and put troops in the streets of the nation’s capital. Contrary to his claims, violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low. The worst single-day crime spree in modern Washington history, of course, took place on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump issued no order to the National Guard to intervene &#8212; Mike Pence did &#8212; and later pardoned the perpetrators. Trump himself has been convicted of 34 felonies and is the first criminal elected president.”
Elliott fired back on X, “I’ll personally pledge $300 for Peter to livestream himself walking the following route, unarmed, after 9 PM on any weekend night.”
An hour later, he updated the challenge, noting, “Hi @peterbakernyt , we’re already up to more than a thousand dollars to a charity of your choice!”
Elliott created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-dc-challenge-walking-america-safest-city-at-night">GoFundMe</a> page for the effort, writing:
<blockquote>
We’re inviting New York Times reporter Peter Baker — who assures us the streets are safer than Disneyland — to take a scenic, unarmed stroll through the nation’s capital after 9 PM on a weekend night. The route? A lovingly curated “Trail of Fun” (see map) weaving through some of DC’s most “charming” neighborhoods. No security detail. No pepper spray. Just pure, unfiltered utopia.
But wait, there&#8217;s more! I’ll double my pledge if Peter sends his wife in his place. Because what better way to showcase safety than letting your loved ones experience it first-hand?
</blockquote>
Elliott added more incentives:
<blockquote>
I’ve personally pledged $300 to kick things off, and many others have already offered to join in. The more we raise, the more irresistible this opportunity becomes:
$500 — Peter gets a GoPro for crystal-clear night footage.
$1,000 — Matching “D.C.: Safest Streets in America” T-shirts for him and his cameraman.
$2,500 — We’ll buy him some gold chains so he walks in style
$5,000+ — The walk expands to two nights: one weekend night and one weeknight (for “scientific comparison”).
Every single dollar will be donated to the charity of Peter’s choice — so not only will this prove the streets are perfectly safe, it will also support a good cause. If Peter declines, we’ll select another high-profile believer in the “no crime crisis” narrative to take his place.
</blockquote>
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nyt-chief-white-house-reporter-challenged-to-walk-d-c-at-night-after-mocking-trump">NYT Chief White House Reporter Challenged To Walk D.C. At Night After Mocking Trump</a>

Fallen young man with skateboard on face at basketball court during sunny day

NYT Reporter Eats Pavement Fact-Checking Trump On D.C. Dining. Oops.

New York Times

restaurants

Crime has already dramatically dropped in our nation&#8217;s capital since President Donald Trump moved to make D.C. safe again for all residents and visitors.
According to the D.C. Police Union, carjackings are down a stunning 83%, robberies down 46%, and violent crime is down 22%.
The stats were based on crime since Trump&#8217;s announcement that he was going to crack down on D.C. crime, compared to the previous seven days.
The D.C. Police Union &#8212; which reps thousands of officers, detectives, and sergeants from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department &#8212; also noted that assault with a deadly weapon is down 6%, car thefts have dropped 21%, property crime is 6% lower, and overall, crime is down 8%.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DC crime since the announcement of federal control versus the 7 days prior:
Robbery ⬇️46% 
ADW ⬇️6% 
Carjacking ⬇️83% 
Car Theft ⬇️21% 
Violent Crime ⬇️22% 
Property Crime ⬇️6% 
All Crimes⬇️8%
While federal assistance gives us a boost, we must repeal the misguided Comprehensive…
— DC Police Union (@DCPoliceUnion) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCPoliceUnion/status/1957435067258577173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
But the details on Trump&#8217;s D.C. cleanup don&#8217;t stop there. In total, since earlier this month, there have been 450 arrests, including 3 known gang members, and 68 firearms seized.
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On Monday evening alone, authorities at the capital made 52 arrests, including an MS-13 gang member illegally in the country. Some of the other arrests involved murder, attempted murder, felony assault, and firearms charges.
A staggering 48 homeless encampments have also been peacefully removed, with voluntary relocations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
21 more FBI arrests in Washington DC last night August 18-19:
-4 gun recoveries 
-6 drug seizures 
-Charges including Felony assault, Larceny, Drug offenses, Assault on officer, and more
Federal partners have arrested over 450 individuals since this operation began.
The work…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1957791105870614649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
On Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted Trump&#8217;s successes in working to make D.C. safe again. She specifically noted that a significant number of the arrests have been concentrated to high-crime areas, with nearly half of the non-illegal immigrant arrests occurring in D.C. Wards 7 &amp; 8.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> highlights <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#8216; remarkable success in cleaning up D.C. crime:
&#8220;There have been a total of 465 arrests since the start of this operation&#8230; Last night, there were a total of 52 arrests, including the arrest of an illegal alien MS-13 gang member.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/FPf1bH9vQx">pic.twitter.com/FPf1bH9vQx</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1957857067512836550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
The news of the swift improvements have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/folks-in-d-c-already-feeling-safer-praise-trump-for-crime-crackdown?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Folks+In+D.C.+Already+Feeling+Safer%2C+Praise+Trump+For+Crime+Crackdown">sparked praise</a> from some residents and visitors, as well as outsiders. However, elected Democrats and left-wing activists remain upset that crime is being addressed.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, for example, have all railed against Trump and his administration for their actions. Newsom, for instance, has likened Trump to a &#8220;dictator&#8221; for working to make D.C. safe.
There have also been left-wing protests in the city, where many participants have been seen holding matching signs that read, &#8220;Free D.C.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ant-Trump protest marching towards the White House chanting, “Free D.C.” and calling for the National Guard to go home.<a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theblaze</a> <a href="https://t.co/vTHMFsnNdR">pic.twitter.com/vTHMFsnNdR</a>
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/1956801739492868372?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
Leavitt on Tuesday criticized Democrats for &#8220;[coddling] violent criminals,&#8221; while Trump is &#8220;focused on putting them behind bars.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LEAVITT: &#8220;While Democrats continue to coddle violent criminals, President Trump and this administration are focused on putting them behind bars.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/rkVXiw7Kp4">pic.twitter.com/rkVXiw7Kp4</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1957859543867621730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/folks-in-d-c-already-feeling-safer-praise-trump-for-crime-crackdown?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Folks+In+D.C.+Already+Feeling+Safer%2C+Praise+Trump+For+Crime+Crackdown">Folks In D.C. Already Feeling Safer, Praise Trump For Crime Crackdown</a>

STATS ARE IN: D.C. Crime Already Dramatically Lower After Trump Crackdown

U.S.

WASHINGTON—Hundreds of protestors convened in DuPont Circle Saturday to denounce what they called President Donald Trump’s fascist takeover of Washington, D.C.
“What we see happening in front of us with a Trump fascist takeover of D.C. is launching to a whole other league of a Trump fascist takeover of society,” Sam Goldman, one of the event’s organizers, said at the opening rally.
These protestors are seething over Trump’s federalization of the metropolitan police and activation of the National Guard to quell the crime that the president has called “totally out of control.”
One of the rallying cries was against Trump’s use of law enforcement to remove homeless people from encampments in the streets, which the protest organizers have called a “Nazi Cleansing of The Homeless!”
When asked whether Trump had any reason to federalize the city’s police, one middle-aged man at the protest replied, “Abso-fu***ing-lutely not. Not a f***ing reason. The hypocrisy of it all.”
As the protest went on, an older gentleman sitting on a bench said a group that provides free meals to homeless people in DuPont Circle was forced to relocate across the street to accommodate the hundreds of demonstrators in the park. About a dozen homeless men and women gathered to receive meals there across the street from the protestors.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-962315" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_150337_012_saved-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_150337_012_saved-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_150337_012_saved-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_150337_012_saved-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_150337_012_saved.jpg 1968w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
In the park, an elderly black woman rocked back and forth on a bench near the rally organizer’s stage. A group of young men sat as far from the noisy rally as they could, smoking joints or cigarettes.
DuPont Circle sits squarely on Connecticut Avenue, which runs right into the White House and falls on what is considered to be the “good side” of the nation’s capital. But it’s also where a well-known DOGE employee was recently beaten bloody by about 10 teenagers who wanted the staffer’s vehicle.
Despite events of that nature, the protestors who gathered over the weekend denied that D.C. had a crime problem.
As they gathered and began chanting, D.C. police officers assembled at the outskirts of the park on bicycles and in cruisers. Once the hundreds of protestors began filing down Connecticut Avenue towards the White House, the police ensured that none of the  First Amendment fighters were mowed down by the city’s notoriously bad drivers.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-962323" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_162158_017_saved-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_162158_017_saved-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_162158_017_saved-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_162158_017_saved-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_162158_017_saved.jpg 1968w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
One of the protestors shouted in the fray that she hated the police, a consistent rallying cry heard throughout the day. Another rally goer humorously commented, “But these ones” — the police escorting the demonstrators towards the White House — “are alright: they’re protesting with us.”
Days before the protest, the D.C. Police Union, which represents roughly 90% of the capital’s officers, endorsed Trump’s move to crack down on crime in the city. The union said it agrees “that crime is spiraling out of control, and immediate action is necessary to restore public safety.”
As the protestors marched down the city streets with the police escorting them and protecting their First Amendment, one man commented that “The rule of law is gone at this point because anything Trump does is against the law and he doesn’t care.”
The protesters themselves did not always match the seriousness of their rhetoric. One protester brandished a baguette, while another held a poster of Princess Leia holding a sub sandwich instead of a gun.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-962317" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_160148_006_saved-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_160148_006_saved-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_160148_006_saved-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_160148_006_saved-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_160148_006_saved.jpg 1968w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
Both of these rally goers had apparently adopted the weapon of 37-year-old Sean Charles Dunn, a former Justice Department employee who slapped a federal agent across the chest with a sub sandwich while calling them “fascists” and yelling, “F*** you!”
In response to the video of the incident,  Jeanine Pirro, who oversees the federal court for the D.C. area, said, “We’re going to back the police to the hilt, so there, stick your Subway sandwich somewhere else.”
The protestors took a route in front of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Washington Monument, where a National Guard convoy was parked. The bicycle police had to restrain the protestors from accosting the guardsmen.
One woman, who lives in Warrenton, Virginia, and came into the city for the protest, said there was no crime problem in D.C. at all.
“I don’t live in D.C. — I live outside — but when I come in, I have never been frightened.
“There’s no emergency here,” the woman, who lives an hour outside D.C., told The Daily Wire. “It’s made up.”
Upon arriving at the White House fence, the protesters continued to shout and blow their whistles.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-962319" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_161825_001_saved-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_161825_001_saved-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_161825_001_saved-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_161825_001_saved-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_161825_001_saved.jpg 1968w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
After the protest began to disband, this reporter went to find some water and had to step around a homeless man sleeping in front of a Peet’s Coffee across the street from the White House.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-962321" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_165855_002_saved-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_165855_002_saved-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_165855_002_saved-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_165855_002_saved-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/20250816_165855_002_saved.jpg 1968w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>

D.C. Protest

The People Protesting Trump’s D.C. Takeover Don’t Seem To Know What’s Going On

Homelessness

Protest

Following his summit with Vladimir Putin, President Trump will host Ukrainian President Zelensky and European leaders at the White House today to push for a peace deal. A leaked memo reveals Meta knowingly allowed its AI chatbots to engage in &#8220;romantic&#8221; conversations with children, prompting bipartisan calls for a congressional investigation. Republican-led states are sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump&#8217;s federal crime crackdown, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests.
It’s Monday, August 18, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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<h2>Trump Hosts Zelensky, European Leaders for Peace Talks</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-961759 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1.jpg 1920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH1-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
&nbsp;
Topline: After his high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin on Friday, President Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders at the White House today in an effort to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. 
While Friday&#8217;s three-hour summit between Trump and Putin did not result in a final deal, both sides expressed optimism that progress was made. The most significant development came on Sunday, when White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Putin had agreed to allow Western-backed, Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine — a major concession. 
The focus now shifts to today’s meeting at the White House, where Zelensky will be joined by the leaders of the U.K., France, Germany, and others. The central issue is whether Ukraine is willing to cede territory — specifically the Donbas region — which Trump has indicated is a requirement for a peace deal. 
&#8220;You can&#8217;t have a deal between two warring factions unless both sides agree to give up something and both sides agree that the other side gets something,&#8221; Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. 
<h2>Leaked Memo Shows Meta Allowed ‘Romantic’ Chatbots for Kids</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-961761 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2.jpg 1920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH2-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
&nbsp;
Topline: A leaked internal memo has revealed that Meta knowingly allowed its artificial intelligence chatbots to engage in “sensual” and “romantic” conversations with children, sparking bipartisan outrage and calls for a congressional investigation. 
The memo, obtained by Reuters, outlined Meta’s internal standards for chatbot behavior on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It revealed that while explicit dialogue was forbidden, &#8220;romantic sounding conversations&#8221; were permitted. Examples of acceptable language included a bot telling a child, &#8220;your youthful form is a work of art,&#8221; or telling a shirtless eight-year-old, &#8220;every inch of you is a masterpiece.&#8221; The investigation found that Meta&#8217;s legal, public policy, and engineering staff all signed off on the policies.
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Meta has confirmed the memo&#8217;s authenticity, but claimed the interactions were never supposed to be allowed. The revelations have prompted swift, bipartisan backlash, with Republican Senators Josh Hawley (MO) and Marsha Blackburn (TN), and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden (WA) all calling for an immediate investigation. The scandal has revived calls for stronger child protection laws, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, which stalled in the House last year. 
<h2>Republican States Send Troops to Support D.C. Crackdown</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-961765 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1.jpg 1920w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/MRN-8.18.25-Mon-SH3-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></div>
&nbsp;
Topline: Three Republican-led states are sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump&#8217;s federal crime crackdown, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests and the clearing of dozens of homeless encampments. 
In response to a call for more manpower from President Trump, West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio have pledged to send a combined total of over 650 National Guard troops to the capital. The troops will join the 800 members of the D.C. National Guard already activated and will primarily be tasked with protecting federal assets like Union Station and the National Mall, not patrolling neighborhoods. 
The crackdown has yielded significant results. As of Saturday, law enforcement had made more than 240 arrests and seized 38 illegal firearms. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also reported that over 70 homeless encampments have been dismantled and decades-old graffiti has been removed. Dozens of illegal immigrants were also reportedly arrested. &#8220;DC will not remain a sanctuary city,&#8221; Attorney General Pam Bondi declared.

MRN 8.18.25 Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: Zelensky & Nato Leaders Attend WH Peace Talks, Meta AI Flirts With Kids, DC Crackdown

Europe

Global Politics

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

Mark Crosby arrived in court last week to attend the sentencing of the man who punched and kicked him in the head outside of a Baltimore Planned Parenthood prepared for his attacker to get a light sentence. 
Before the sentencing began, Crosby, 75, sat outside the courtroom holding up photos of his bloodied face as his assailant, 28-year-old Patrick Brice, paced nervously down the hall. Crosby also carried with him the blood stained shirt he was wearing when he was attacked and a list of peaceful pro-life protesters who were jailed during the Biden administration. 
Brice was convicted earlier this year of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment charges for attacking Crosby and then 84-year-old Dick Schaefer as they stood outside a downtown Baltimore Planned Parenthood facility urging women not to get abortions. Surveillance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-full-video-shows-lead-up-to-brutal-attack-of-elderly-pro-lifers-by-man-who-dodged-prison?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Full+Video+Shows+Lead-Up+To+Brutal+Attack+Of+Elderly+Pro-Lifers+By+Man+Who+Dodged+Prison">footage shows</a> Brice getting into an argument with Schaefer before tackling him to the ground and turning around and attacking Crosby. 
Crosby asked people standing outside of the courtroom, including reporters and supporters, if what happened to him looked like a misdemeanor. 
In the end, his prediction that Brice would get a light penalty came true. Baltimore City Circuit Judge Yvette Bryant <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-who-brutally-beat-elderly-pro-lifers-dodges-prison-time?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Man+Who+Brutally+Beat+Elderly+Pro-Lifers+Dodges+Prison+Time">sentenced him</a> to just one year of home detention with work and other allowances, and three years of probation. 
&#8220;What about my rights and my well-being?&#8221; Crosby shouted as Bryant left the courtroom. 
Crosby later told The Daily Wire that he believed the light sentencing was because of the fact that Baltimore is a “criminal-friendly” city and run by pro-abortion officials. Crosby was represented by the Thomas More Society, which decried the sentencing. 
“This was not a minor altercation between two parties with differing views on abortion. It was a vicious, targeted assault on two senior citizens whose only ‘offense’ was praying for expectant mothers and offering life-affirming alternatives to abortion,” Thomas More Society President Tom Brejcha said.
“One of the victims was knocked unconscious. The other suffered broken facial bones and a lifelong eye impairment. This was an act of cowardice and cruelty, and sheer mayhem. This crime deserves far more serious consequences than a ‘get out of jail free’ card and a one-year home detention that amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrist.”
Brice&#8217;s sentancing contrasted sharply with those of the dozens of peaceful pro-life protesters who were prosecuted by the Biden administration. Many of those defendants were sentenced to years long prison sentences for violating the Freedom to Access Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). 
The law, signed by President Bill Clinton to supposedly guarantee access to both abortion facilities and crisis pregnancy centers, has been used disproportionately against pro-lifers. The Biden administration paired FACE charges with a Reconstruction-era conspiracy against rights law that allows for prison sentences of over 10 years. 
Biden’s Justice Department successfully prosecuted these cases across the country — from Michigan to Tennessee to Washington, D.C. — and got lengthy prison sentences for multiple defendants. 
One woman, Lauren Handy, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-life-activist-sentenced-to-over-four-years-in-prison-over-protest-at-d-c-abortion-facility">was sentenced</a> to 57 months in prison for her role in an October 20 sit-in at the notorious D.C.-based Washington Surgi-Clinic late-term abortion facility. Handy helped lead a protest inside the facility that involved the group singing, praying, locking arms in front of the facility’s staff entrance, and attaching themselves with ropes and chains to block doors inside the building.
They were convicted of FACE Act charges and conspiracy against rights.
Many of Handy&#8217;s co-defendants also received lengthy prison sentences including John Hinshaw (21 months in prison), William Goodman (27 months), Jonathan Darnell (34 months), Herb Geraghty (27 months), Jean Marshall (24 months), Joan Bell (27 months in prison), Paula Paulette Harlow (24 months), and Heather Idoni (24 months). 
Biden’s Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/seven-defendants-sentenced-federal-conspiracy-against-rights-and-freedom-access-clinic">claimed</a> that the protest “resulted in injury to a clinic nurse.” But the Thomas More Society, which defended Handy, <a href="https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/news/thomas-more-society-files-emergency-appeal-of-lower-court-decision-denying-lauren-handys-release-from-jail-pending-sentencing#:~:text=Lauren%20Handy%2C%20et%20al.,for%20Release%20Pending%20Sentencing%2C%20here.">argued</a> differently. 
“The only basis for a finding of the use of force was when an overzealous clinic worker rushed at the pro-life advocates and tried to forcibly remove them from the clinic waiting room, resulting in her twisting an ankle,” the legal group said. “There was no allegation that Ms. Handy or her co-defendants intended to harm anyone. In fact, Ms. Handy and her co-defendants were united in their commitment to non-violence.”
In another prosecution brought by the Biden administration, six pro-lifers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pro-life-demonstrators-found-guilty-face-up-to-11-years-in-federal-prison">were convicted</a> in Tennessee of the FACE Act and conspiracy against rights. Their protest involved the demonstrators signing, praying, and sitting in front of doors in a hallway outside of an abortion facility in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.  
Two of those defendants, including 64-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pardoned-pro-life-activist-says-hes-running-on-adrenaline-and-the-holy-ghost-after-trump-pardon">Calvin Zastrow</a> and 75-year-old Chet Gallagher, were sentenced to prison. Heather Idoni, one of their codefendants, was also sentenced to serve a prison sentence to run concurrently with her sentence from D.C.
Another FACE Act defendant was Bevelyn Williams, who was sentenced in New York to 44 months in prison.  
This all changed after Trump took office and he <a href="https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1386366/dl">issued pardons</a> for the FACE Act defendants, meaning that Handy and the other imprisoned pro-lifers were freed. The Justice Department also issued a directive to only enforce the FACE Act in cases of extreme violence.
Crosby believes that the Trump administration should get involved in his case and look at prosecuting what happened to him and Schaefer as a hate crime as he believes that he was targeted for his religious and political beliefs.

MixCollage-14-Aug-2025-01-14-PM-6596

This Man Dodged Prison For Beating Two Pro-Lifers. Biden Jailed Pro-Lifers Over Peaceful Protests.

Abortion

Baltimore

Biden Administration

Department of Justice

FACE Act

Planned Parenthood

Pro-Life Movement

Tennessee

Folks in our nation&#8217;s capital are already feeling safer since President Donald Trump, mere days ago, started cracking down on crime in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order declaring a crime emergency in D.C., and moved to protect public servants, citizens, and tourists, citing staggering crime statistics.
The president has already federalized D.C.&#8217;s police department and deployed 800 National Guard troops to help with this effort. Additionally, the city is now cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), tackling illegal immigration.
&#8220;Went on a run through DC tonight. Insane amount of people out doing the same,&#8221; James Laverty posted to X on Thursday. &#8220;Cops everywhere but the vibe was different. People feel safe again. Common sense prevails.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Went on a run through DC tonight. Insane amount of people out doing the same. Cops everywhere but the vibe was different. People feel safe again. Common sense prevails. Mile time didn’t. <a href="https://t.co/SJHIMIiEfy">pic.twitter.com/SJHIMIiEfy</a>
— James Laverty (@JamesLaverty45) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesLaverty45/status/1955803610098385404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Journalist and commentator Katie Pavlich also noticed the swift changes in D.C.
&#8220;First time at Union Station this morning since Trump’s crime crackdown and there wasn’t a single crazy person screaming, vagrant or person doing drugs. Instead, lots of families visiting D.C.,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Wonderful!!!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
First time at Union Station this morning since Trump’s crime crackdown and there wasn’t a single crazy person screaming, vagrant or person doing drugs. Instead, lots of families visiting D.C. Wonderful!!! <a href="https://t.co/axTanM4iFj">pic.twitter.com/axTanM4iFj</a>
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatiePavlich/status/1956372905090031706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
Additionally, a woman&#8217;s video posted to TikTok and X, which commented on the safe vibes of the D.C. area, went viral, racking up millions of views.
“Finally able to chill at a red light with my windows down, not worried about if one of them young n****s is coming,” TikTok user bigdawglexi said, as <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/08/15/us-news/dc-woman-goes-viral-after-sharing-she-feels-more-safe-than-ever-in-capital-after-trumps-law/">highlighted</a> by the New York Post. “Riding through the city, feeling more safe than I ever felt.&#8221;
In another post, the woman said it&#8217;s “real quiet in the city, real livable, real ‘I like that,'&#8221; adding that this was due to &#8220;Trump’s Law.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Incredible stuff coming out of D.C.
“Finally able to chill at a red light with my windows down not worried about if one of them young n**gas is coming… feelin more safe than I ever felt.”
Trump just pulled off the most impressive domestic policy achievement in generations. <a href="https://t.co/z9uli5SXZR">pic.twitter.com/z9uli5SXZR</a>
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/_johnnymaga/status/1956181206564794834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
However, elected Democrats — <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-opposing-trumps-dc-crack-down-lead-americas-most-dangerous-cities">including</a> Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, and California Governor Gavin Newsom — are complaining about Trump&#8217;s efforts in D.C.
Gov. Newsom, for example, suggested Trump is a &#8220;dictator&#8221; for cleaning up the city.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-promises-to-liberate-d-c-from-savagery-filth-and-scum">Trump Promises To Liberate D.C. From ‘Savagery, Filth, And Scum’</a>

US-VOTE-TRUMP

Folks In D.C. Already Feeling Safer, Praise Trump For Crime Crackdown

The Democrat attorney general of Washington, D.C., sued Friday to stop President Donald Trump’s efforts to fight crime and decrease homelessness in the nation’s capital. 
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the takeover of the D.C. police department by the federal government. Schwab claimed that Trump’s actions to clean up the city were “brazenly unlawful” and an “affront to the dignity” of those who lived in the district. 
“We are suing to block the federal government takeover of DC police. By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it,” Schwalb <a href="https://x.com/DCAttorneyGen/status/1956339480815669309">said</a>. “The federal government&#8217;s power over DC is not absolute, and it should not be exercised as such.”
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/were-gonna-take-our-capital-back-heres-everything-trump-is-going-to-do-to-clean-up-d-c?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘We’re+Gonna+Take+Our+Capital+Back’%3A+Here’s+Everything+Trump+Is+Going+To+Do+To+Clean+Up+D.C.">signed</a> an executive order earlier this week declaring a crime emergency in the capital, giving him authority under Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take control of the police department. DEA administrator Terry Cole has been named the head of the department. 
Schwalb’s lawsuit argues that Trump is illegally exercising control over the police department through a misapplication of Section 740.  
“The Administration&#8217;s actions are brazenly unlawful. They go well beyond the bounds of the President&#8217;s limited authority and instead seek a hostile takeover of MPD. They infringe on the District&#8217;s right to self-governance and put the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk,” Schwalb claimed. “This is an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. Our office will go to court to defend Home Rule, block the unlawful orders, and maintain MPD under District control. We have no choice but to stand up for DC residents&#8217; rights and safety.”
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In recent days, Trump has deployed agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to D.C. to crack down on crime. He has also sent around 800 National Guard troops to assist with the efforts to secure the city. 
While Democrat officials and legacy media outlets have argued that crime in the district is not a problem, statistics suggest otherwise. 
The homicide rate in D.C. in 2024 reached 27.3 per 100,000 residents, giving the U.S. capital the fourth-highest homicide rate of any city in the country. So far in 2025, D.C. authorities have also <a href="https://mpdc.dc.gov/dailycrime">reported</a>  541 assaults with a dangerous weapon, over 900 robberies, and nearly 3,000 motor vehicle thefts. While the city has reported lower violent crime levels since record highs from 2020 to 2023, violent crime remains much higher in D.C. than it did 10-15 years ago.

Trump Increases Federal Law Enforcement Presence, Deploys National Guard In Nation’s Capital

D.C. Attorney General Sues To Stop Trump’s Crackdown On Crime And Homelessness

D.C. Sues To Stop Trump's Crackdown On Crime And Homelessness

Violent Crime

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an <a href="https://x.com/camiloreports/status/1956171733544710577">order</a> Thursday evening that named a new Emergency Police Commissioner whose power will supersede that of Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith and grant Washington, D.C., police officers more freedom in their interactions with suspected illegal immigrants.
Bondi&#8217;s order, titled “Restoring safety and security to the District of Columbia,” names Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole as the new Emergency Police Commissioner effective immediately. D.C. Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith will be stripped of power for the duration of President Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-14333-declaring-crime-emergency-the-district-columbia">executive order</a>, &#8220;Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia.&#8221;
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“Effective immediately, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrence Cole shall serve as MPD&#8217;s Emergency Police Commissioner for the duration of the emergency declared by the President. Commissioner Cole shall assume all of the powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police,” Bondi states in her order. “Commissioner Cole shall have the authority to issue any general orders, executive orders, or other written directives that apply to Members of the MPD. Existing MPD leadership, including the current Chief of Police, members of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police, Bureau Heads/Executive Staff, and Commanders must receive approval from Commissioner Cole before issuing any further directives to the MPD.&#8221;
Elsewhere, Bondi&#8217;s order states, “Notwithstanding false media narratives and apparent efforts by some District employees to manipulate crime statistics, the danger posed by violent crime in the District is plain for all to see. As Executive Order 14333 of August 11, 2025 (Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia), makes clear, the &#8216;rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists&#8217; and is impeding the proper functioning of the Federal Government. These dangers are multiplied by the District&#8217;s sanctuary city policies, which actively shield criminal aliens from the consequences required by federal law.”
“Bondi also explicitly rescinded three orders issued by the Metro police within the past two years related to illegal immigration – the most recent one being an executive <a style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;" href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-police-announce-major-action-immigration-enforcement-after-trumps-crime-crackdown">order issued by Smith earlier</a> on Thursday limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities,” <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ag-bondi-strips-power-from-dc-police-chief-rescinds-sanctuary-city-protections-crime-crackdown-operation?intcmp=tw_fnc&amp;taid=689eedb42c602f00017061b5&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Fox News</a> noted. “To the extent that provisions in this Order conflict with any existing MPD directives, those directives are hereby rescinded,” Bondi wrote.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb called Bondi’s order “unlawful,” adding, “Therefore, members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor,” ABC News <a href="https://abc7.com/post/bondi-names-dea-head-dcs-emergency-police-commissioner-capital-leaders-push-back/17544546/">reported</a>.

Trump To Lay Out His Plan For Reducing Crime In Nation’s Capital

Bondi Strips D.C. Police Chief Of Power, Names New Emergency Police Commissioner

Pam Bondi

Police

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