• Trump deploys National Guard in Washington, D.C. amid claims of a crime wave.
• He invokes federal control over the D.C. police department.
• The deployment follows previous military tactics used in Los Angeles.
• Crime statistics in D.C. contradict Trump’s justification for deployment.
• Trump refers to it as “liberation day” in his press briefing.

President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing the need to combat crime and restore order. During a press conference, Trump stated, “It’s liberation day in D.C,” indicating a significant federal intervention in local governance, as he places the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control according to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Section 740, according to Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Trump has characterized D.C. as “totally out of control” due to violent crime, despite evidence showing that violent crime rates have significantly decreased. The president announced intentions to remove homeless individuals from encampments, emphasizing a desire to return the city to its "gleaming" state. Data indicates that prior to his announcement, violent crime in D.C. was at a 30-year low, according to Los Angeles Times.

This deployment mirrors tactics Trump used earlier in Los Angeles amid immigration raids, which drew legal challenges concerning the deployment’s legality. Despite these issues, the 9th Circuit Court allowed the continuation of military presence in California while the situation is under judicial review, demonstrating the complex interplay between federal authority and state governance, according to Los Angeles Times.