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.
Trump says 800 Guardsmen to be deployed, will add more 'if necessary'
President Donald Trump said the government is starting with 800 National Guardsmen in D.C., but will call up "much more if necessary."
"Washington. D.C., should be one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world, and we're going to make it that," he said.
President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference to discuss crime in Washington, D.C, in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, August 11, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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.
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.