President Trump on Tuesday renewed his threat to place Washington, D.C. under federal control, citing what he called “out of control” crime in the nation’s capital.
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 years old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, all while knowing they’ll be almost immediately released,” Trump wrote in a lengthy TRUTH Social post.
He called on city officials to begin charging violent juveniles as adults starting at age 14 — and to “lock them up for a long time.”
Trump’s full post below:
Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local “youths” and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released. They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now! The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these “minors” as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14. The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs. Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see. If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore. Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
The president included a picture of a young man sitting on the ground with blood streaming down his face after being apparently assaulted by teenagers.
From The New York Post:
Former Trump ally Elon Musk said on X that a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee had recently rushed to help a woman who was in danger of being assaulted in her car — only to be beaten up by the gang of teenagers himself.
A Metropolitan Police Department incident report obtained by The Post identified the ex-DOGE worker as Edward Coristine, whose LinkedIn handle earned him the nickname “Big Balls.”
Coristine and a woman were near downtown DC on Sunday morning when a group of juveniles approached them and made “a comment about taking the vehicle,” according to the report.
“At that point, for her safety, [Coristine] pushed his significant other … into the vehicle and turned to deal with the suspects,” the dramatic report continues.
“The suspects then began to assault [Coristine],” the ex-DOGE staffer told officers, who rolled up on the scene at the same time he was being attacked.
DC police arrested two youths related to the assault.
Musk shared Trump’s TRUTH post on X, saying, “A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC. A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. It is time to federalize DC.”
A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC.
A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her.
It is time to federalize DC. pic.twitter.com/RPHKj7J3ti
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2025
More over at The New York Post:
Trump threatens federal takeover of DC if capital ‘doesn’t get its act together’ https://t.co/bsEYussBFW pic.twitter.com/VszgMJjXn1
— New York Post (@nypost) August 5, 2025