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President Trump called out out Washington D.C. on Tuesday for failures in prosecuting violent crime. Trump warned that an exercise of executive power may be necessary to combat rampant rates of crime in the nation’s capital city.
Washington D.C. has seen a decrease in overall violent crime in recent years. However, the lethality of crimes committed has been on the rise, meaning violent incidents that occur are more likely to turn deadly.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted a recent violent incident in which a young man was allegedly attacked and beaten. Trump criticized the approach of law enforcement to solving the problem, saying stricter measures were necessary to ensure safety.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. 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,” Trump said. “They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!”
Trump focused on one aspect of the crime problem, saying minors charged with violent crimes should be prosecuted as adults and incur adult penalties for committing violent crimes.
“The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these “minors” as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14. The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs,” Trump said.
Trump stressed the importance of maintaining the nation’s capital city and preserving its safety for visitors. He also indicated his willingness to exert executive authority and take control of the city if local law enforcement did not step up its efforts to address the crime problem.
“Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see. If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore,” Trump said. “Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”