After DC shock, Trump plots military-style crime crackdowns in 5 more US cities - is yours on the list?

President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping crime crackdown in Washington, DC, deploying hundreds of National Guard troops and federalizing the police force. He now warns that more cities may be added to the list.

Donald Trump has launched a massive crime crackdown in Washington, DC, calling it the first step in a larger effort to restore order in American cities. With five more urban areas in his sights, his plan has sparked heated debate among Republican supporters and Democratic leaders who argue that crime rates are already falling.

President Trump called it "liberation day" and promised to take back the city from what he called gangs, drug-fueled violence, and homelessness, as per a report by The US Sun.


Trump told reporters, "This is historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, and squalor." He made it clear that DC was just the start.

Why did Trump start the crackdown on crime in DC?

Trump said that "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" have taken over Washington DC and that the federal government needs to step in right away. His action comes after more and more people in the capital are worried about safety. Some journalists have even said in private that the city feels more dangerous than the official numbers show, as per a report by The US Sun.

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Kyra Phillips, an anchor for ABC, even told a story about being attacked on her way to work. She said, "We can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we're all experiencing it firsthand,” as per a report by The US Sun.

What cities does he want to attack next?

Trump said in his announcement that Los Angeles, Baltimore, Oakland, New York, and Chicago are "in a very bad place." He promised that crime would not "take over" these cities and that the DC operation could be used as a model for cleaning up other big cities.

Trump also hinted that he would ask Congress to extend the 30-day limit on federal policing. He said that "almost all" Republicans would support his crime-fighting bill, as per a report by The US Sun.


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What are Democrats and locals doing?

Democratic leaders have fought back hard, saying that Trump is just trying to make himself look good. Brandon Scott, the mayor of Baltimore, said that his city is "the safest it's been in over 50 years," with murders down 28% this year. JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, said that Trump's threats to take over Chicago were "unconstitutional."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Republicans were ignoring states' rights. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made fun of Trump by saying that "at 1200 Pennsylvania Ave" is the most dangerous crime scene in DC, as per a report by The US Sun.

Some people in the area, though, quietly welcome the extra security, saying that how safe people feel is just as important as the numbers. Joe Scarborough of MSNBC said that crime in DC isn't as bad as it used to be, but it's still "not as safe as the nation's capital should be."

What do the figures say?

Crime rates have been going down across the country. Recent reports say:

• Violent crimes in Oakland are down 19%, and murders are down 32%.
• Crime has dropped by 15% in Chicago, and murders have dropped by 37%.
• In the past year, the rate of violent crime in Baltimore has dropped by 17%.
• Robberies in New York City have gone down by 27%.
• Last year, the number of homicides in Los Angeles went down by 14%.

Despite the data, Trump says the federal government must act as conditions worsen.

Trump's plan puts the balance between federal power and local control in a high-stakes political and legal fight, as per a report by The US Sun.

FAQs

Which cities has Donald Trump targeted for potential future crackdowns?
Los Angeles, Baltimore, Oakland, New York, and Chicago.

What authorities enable Trump to deploy federal troops domestically?
Subject to certain conditions, the president may use Title 32 authority to deploy National Guard troops and federalize local law enforcement.