Trump admin updates: Trump teases 'big day' at White House

President Donald Trump also said Zelenskyy can end the war "almost immediately."

Last Updated: August 18, 2025, 12:09 AM EDT

President Donald Trump returned from Alaska after his high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the president's crime-reduction push in Washington, D.C. continues.

National Guard are in Washington as part of Trump's plan to reduce violent crime in the city.

On Friday, an order by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi designating the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration Terry Cole as the District's "Emergency Police Commissioner" was retooled after a legal challenge by local officials.

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Here's how the news is developing.
Aug 11, 2025, 11:07 AM EDT

Hegseth: National Guard troops will appear on DC streets in coming week

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the D.C. National Guard was mobilized on Monday morning and will be operationalized by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

"You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week," Hegseth said after being brought to the podium by President Donald Trump. "At your direction as well, sir, there are other unites we are prepared to bring in -- other National Guard units, other specialized units. They will be strong, they will be tough and they will stand with their law enforcement partners."

President Donald Trump speaks to the press about deploying federal law enforcement agents in Washington to bolster the local police presence, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, August 11, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Aug 11, 2025, 11:04 AM EDT

Trump said requests for more DC officers 'ridiculous'

President Donald Trump said D.C.'s police force is adequately staffed and said he had heard of requests to add more to the force.

Trump repeatedly claimed there were 3,500 police in D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department.

"I was told today, sure, they want more police. I heard a number 3,500 police. That's a lot of police -- 3,500," he said. "I thought they're going to say we only have 30 policemen or women. You said, 'We have 3,500. We need more.' You don't need more."

Trump said it was "ridiculous" to have more police officers.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to speak with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington
President Donald Trump arrives to speak with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

"This is not a big area. It's ridiculous. What you need is rules and regulations, and you need the right people to implement them. And we have the right people here, that I can tell you," Trump said.

Aug 11, 2025, 10:57 AM EDT

Trump says he'll push Republicans to change no cash bail

At a press conference on crime in Washington, President Donald Trump said he would work to change no-cash-bail policies and railed against Democrat-led cities that have implemented bail reforms like New York and Chicago.

"We're going to change no cash bail. We're going to change the statute and get rid of some of the other things, and we'll count on the Republicans in Congress and Senate to vote. We have the majority, so we'll vote," Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

Aug 11, 2025, 10:50 AM EDT

Trump compares DC crime to other countries: 'Do you want to live in places like that?'

President Donald Trump held up papers displaying several charts, which he claimed showed D.C.'s crime rate compared to other countries' crime rates -- including those in Baghdad, Panama City, San Jose, Colombia and others.

Trump claimed D.C.'s crime rate is double or triple what the other countries experience.

"So do you want to live in places like that? I don't think so. I don't think so," he said.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP

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