Trump Visits D.C. Amidst Anti-Crime Initiative, Praises Law Enforcement, and Faces Local Criticism

President Trump spoke to a gathering of federal law enforcement officers in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. The visit occurred amidst an anti-crime initiative that has significantly increased the presence of police and National Guard members in the city.

The president's visit included a stop at a U.S. Park Police facility in Southeast D.C. There, he expressed his gratitude to the federal agents and distributed hamburgers, which he stated were prepared at the White House, and pizza from a local establishment. He praised the officers, stating their importance to the country.

During his brief remarks, Mr. Trump mentioned plans to enhance the city's appearance within the next six to twelve months. These plans included initiatives to remove graffiti, restore park grass, and repair road medians. Several other administration officials also addressed the officers, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

The increased law enforcement presence includes approximately 2,000 National Guard personnel from D.C. and several states, along with a surge of officers from agencies like the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The president has also asserted federal control over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, which has faced opposition from local politicians.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Trump had announced his intention to patrol the city alongside law enforcement and the National Guard. This announcement was made as the Metropolitan Police Department reported no homicides in the district for over a week. The president joked about keeping his patrol plans secret.

The president's visit followed a day after Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller visited National Guard members stationed at Union Station. According to Bondi, the initiative has resulted in 630 arrests and the seizure of 86 illegal firearms.

Unlike other presidents, Mr. Trump has made few ventures into the district, other than to deliver speeches or to visit his former hotel. He has claimed that people he knows feel safer in the city than before.

Local officials, however, have expressed concerns about the initiative, arguing that it is unnecessary and that the president's claims about safety issues are exaggerated. Local police data indicates a decline in violent crime in D.C. over the past year and a half. Mr. Trump, however, has dismissed the crime statistics as inaccurate and stated that his administration would investigate them.