On Thursday, President Trump stated that he would patrol the streets of Washington D.C. that night under the cover of darkness along with law enforcement and National Guard personnel. “I’m going out tonight — I need to keep it secret,” Trump told host Todd Starnes on the Newsmax show “The Todd Starnes Show.” “I will be taking action alongside the police and the military. The National Guard has performed exceptionally well.”
This announcement comes as the Trump administration further strengthens federal control over law enforcement agencies in Washington D.C. Trump’s camp pointed out that security in the D.C. area has deteriorated, especially with the local police struggling to combat violent crimes and address homelessness issues, making federal intervention necessary.
Earlier this month, FBI agents and National Guard troops were deployed to Capitol Hill to assist in the federal government’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. The Trump administration emphasized that as the nation’s capital, Washington should not become a “legal vacuum.”
However, officials from the D.C. government denied Trump’s claims, stating that local security has significantly improved since a surge in violent crimes in 2023, based on municipal and federal statistics.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields later stated on the Newsmax program “Newsline” that the President’s plan for night patrols “is quite significant news” and stressed that the overall operation would be coordinated by security units. “More details will be released gradually,” Fields told host Bianca de la Garza, stating, “Any of the President’s itineraries involve security considerations, and I cannot disclose in advance the planning content formulated by dedicated personnel.”
He added that Vice President JD Vance visited Union Station on Wednesday, highlighting the noticeable improvement in local security since the Trump administration took over. De la Garza remarked that in the past, “no Vice President dared to go there.”