Trump threatens national emergency to control DC police force

president Donald Trump He said he could declare a national emergency to maintain control of police forces in Washington, D.C. if Congress does not work with him to expand the current federalization plan.

Trump made a statement at a press conference at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and he believes he can control the Metropolitan Police Department indefinitely if he declares a national emergency. Under the current structure, the federal government controlled the MPD within 30 days on Monday.

“Unless Congress takes action to extend the restrictions, your federal limit on police is 30 days. Are you talking to Congress about extending it, or do you think 30 days are enough?” the reporter asked.

“Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do that without Congress. But we hope to be in Congress soon. Again, we don’t think Democrats will do anything to stop crime, but we think Republicans will almost do it unanimously. So we’ll need a crime bill. We’ll give a great example in it.

FBI Director Kash Patel supports Trump’s DC police takeover: “When you make good police officers, they deliver”

Trump continues to confirm that his administration will seek to “long-term expansion” to 30-day restrictions.

“You can’t have 30 days,” he said. “We’re going to do this very soon, but we’re going to expand. I don’t want to call a national emergency, but if I have to.”

Trump plans to be amid DC Sparks’ plan to strongly oppose residents, but some welcome it

Trump announced his DC crime and homeless crackdown last week, calling for National Guard In addition to the federal MPD, federal law enforcement agencies.

A White House official told Fox Digital that law enforcement had arrested more than 100 people on Wednesday morning, including 43 people. The arrests are part of Trump’s marching order that set up a DC Security and Beauty task force ahead of Trump’s announcement on Monday of the federal police department.

Monday, August 11, 2025, the remaining homeless camps in Washington, D.C. (Fox News figures)

“President Trump’s bold leadership is quickly making our country’s capital safer,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox Digital. “In less than a week, President Trump has been arrested on the streets of Washington State and has taken away his campaign promises to clean up the city and restore the campaign promises of the United States’ precious capital.”

White House People living in homeless camps in the U.S. capital will have two options in the coming days: receive treatment in homeless shelters, or go to jail. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed the message at a press conference Tuesday.

Federal government and Border Patrol officers arrested a man in the U Street corridor when deploying federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C. on August 10, 2025. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Image)

“American Park Police have demolished 70 homeless camps,” Levitt said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Department will join the Park Police. “Within the National Park Service’s jurisdiction, there are only two homeless camps in DC Federal Park, with the remaining two camps scheduled to be evacuated this week.”

Click here to get the Fox News app

Leavitt added that those who refuse shelters for homelessness may face jail time.

Emma Colton of Fox News contributes to the report