Trump Considers National Guard for D.C. Crime Increase
During a press conference, President Donald Trump suggested the potential involvement of the National Guard to combat rising crime in Washington, D.C., especially following a violent incident involving former government efficiency members.
According to a police report acquired by the Daily Color News Foundation, Edward Coristine, who is known online as “big ball,” was brutally attacked early Sunday after trying to intervene in an attempted carjacking. When asked about the possibility of federalizing city police, Trump affirmed that the option was still available, stating, “Yeah, crime is ridiculous, so we’re thinking about it.” He mentioned that comparisons of crime rates in D.C. to other cities, which they had observed on television, underscored the need for a safer capital.
Trump’s remarks came in the wake of the tragic shooting of Eric Tarpinian Yachim, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes, who was killed on June 30. Post the July 8 incident, the White House expressed interest in a federal intervention in D.C., suggesting hopes that the president would address evident flaws in the city’s safety.
Trump expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions in the capital, mentioning graffiti and poorly maintained roads. He emphasized a need for aesthetic improvements alongside crime reduction efforts, saying, “We’re going to make it beautiful, and what a shame, the percentage of crime… all that includes bringing in the National Guard, perhaps very quickly.”
The president also conveyed his frustration on social media regarding the safety issues in D.C., referring to the crime wave and describing a recent victim as having been “relently beaten” by local criminals.
Although Trump did not specifically name Coristine, a photo circulated showing a young man injured. Former Doge Head Elon Musk had called attention to the attack on Doge staff, advocating for D.C. to be federalized due to safety concerns.
According to a release from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Coristine and others suspected suspicious activity, prompting them to intervene. The police reported that Coristine was attacked while trying to assist another victim. Authorities have since arrested two 15-year-old males from Hyattsville, Maryland, charging them with unarmed carjacking.
