Trump’s Washington, D.C. acquisition comes directly from fascist script | Moustafa Bayoumi

one The key chapters in the fascist script have always been to convince the public to live in this state of deadly danger and infinite chaos, and that the only chance of survival is to attribute individual rights to the dear leader’s definite will. This is why fascist leaders constantly demand that their population respect all violence performed in service to the state and worship rituals of state violence, such as police forces and military. In this case, state violence is not only a necessary condition for national survival. State violence is considered beautiful, something the public can and must believe.

Purchasing state violence in this way produces what historian Robert Paxton calls “mobilization passion.” In his book Fascist Anatomy Paxton describes how “violence and the beauty of the effectiveness of will” came about, and then mobilized by fascists to create “overwhelming crises beyond the scope of traditional solutions.” In other words, there will always be a grave, and the threat of existence lurks in every corner, and only fascist violence can restore order to a lawless world. For fascists, as Umberto Eco said, “life is a permanent war.”

Enter Donald Trump. Is it true The threat of “suffocation” exists In a U.S. university or Extraordinary danger In unauthorized immigrants picking our vegetables, Trump is ready to fight everyone and everything, including his own windmill, to restore the country to the glory that we all should believe and be willing to sacrifice our own glory for ourselves.

But the sad truth is that Trump’s justification for his policy, if not most, is no surprise, based on bald lies or exaggerations, is just to pursue his pursuit of absolute power further. But that doesn’t seem to matter. With each new announcement, Trump continues to prove how great he is in making problematic fantasies, basically without problems, and leads his followers on a path of retribution that is often violent. (Remember January 6th, DC The most violent days In recent history? ), he tried to continuously expand his authority while also deviating from all the substantive issues he faced. These questions are not important. Think of the Jeffery Epstein scandal or the continuation of the global conflict he promised a few months ago, and he will be able to end uniquely.

Federal takeover Washington, DC The Police Department announced Monday that it was the latest example of this phenomenon. “Our capital is replaced by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, with about 800 National Guard troops deployed in the country’s capital because our capital passes wild youth, drug madmen and homeless people.”

This really sounds scary. Fortunately, this is not true. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to matter.

First, facts. Crime in Washington, D.C. is at a historic low. “The District of Columbia’s total violent crime in 2024 fell 35% from 2023, the lowest crime in more than 30 years,” the Department of Justice said. Announce Earlier this year. And the crime numbers in 2025 are even better, much lower than in 2024. The violent crime in 2025 is 26% decrease Compared with 2024.

The DC Council understands this. Council responds to Trump’s announcement with an angry coalition statement: “This is made to local authorities. Violent crime in the area is the lowest rate we have seen in 30 years. Federal DC police are unnecessary because there is no federal emergency. In addition, the National Guard does not have public safety training or knowledge of local laws. The role of the Guard does not include investigations or resolution of crimes in the area. Calls on National Police for Health.

These facts should be important. Then why don’t they go to Trump?

The facts don’t matter to Trump because the facts have always been inconvenience to him. Just ask Erika Mcentarfer, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. She’s recently Turn on fire These specific numbers contradict Trump and his policies after Trump accurately reported employment statistics. But Trump’s worldview of nothing has become even more worrying with each new policy set by this administration.

The same is true for this policy. Due to its historically limited autonomy, the District of Columbia is governed differently from other parts of the county. Under the Domestic Rule Act of 1973, it is easier for the federal government to take over 30 days of police functions. Congress may have to extend that time limit if needed. But, it is believed that Trump is focused on the federal policing mandate that only deploys it to Washington, D.C., and also believes Donald Trump Never seen a machine that sprays tan.

here Trump is: “We have other cities that are bad, very bad,” he said in a press conference. “You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is. We have other very bad cities. New York is a problem. Then, of course you have Baltimore and Oakland. We don’t even mention them, we don’t even mention them anymore, so we won’t die. We won’t let our cities lose that problem. We won’t be in trouble anymore. We will continue.

Now, this is the truth. exist Chicagohomicides fell by 33% in 2025. Los Angeles 2025 has the lowest total number of homicides in nearly 60 years. New York“From January 2025 to May 2025, New York City experienced the lowest shootings and murders in history,” the police department reported. Baltimore The police department said that in 2025, “continue to reduce gun violence, including a 22% reduction in homicide cases.” Auckland Police Department Report Last week, “Oakland’s overall crime fell 28% in the first six months of 2025”, with homicides down 24%.

Donald Trump wants to take over all forms of law enforcement in the United States, from local policing to immigration and customs law enforcement agencies (ICEs), which is now budgeting steroids. (Under Trump’s so-called big and beautiful bill, the ice will now expand to maximum Federal law enforcement agencies in the history of the United States Larger budget More than most ethnic armies. ) Trump’s desire to control all forms of state power and extend it beyond belief is a fascist script move. It all depends on the emergence of extraordinary fear and blatant lies.

The first way to seize this obvious power is not to succumb to fear, nor to believe lies. But what I don’t know much about Trump is that he doesn’t even care whether we believe his lies. Like all these leaders, all Trump really wants is that we no longer believe the truth. The difference between not believing in lies and believing in the truth may sound small, but it is in this distinction that some people can survive while others must die. Democracy is found here or loss of democracy. This is why insisting on the concept of truth is ultimately more important than just arguing about lies.

• Is it a question that Moustafa Bayoumi is the author of award-winning books? He is a professor of English at Brooklyn College in New York City