Trump-controlled National Guard troops arrive in Washington

National Guard troops began operating Tuesday night (12) in Washington, after President Donald Trump announced that he would mobilize the military and that the federal government would take control of the local police force with the aim of combating what he considers to be excessive crime in the American capital.

Trump declared a public safety emergency on Monday to justify the federal efforts in the city, which will initially last 30 days. A total of 800 federal troops will work in the capital.

According to defense officials interviewed by The Washington Post , some of these officers have already been in the city since early Tuesday, and others are expected in the coming days.

The move is yet another attempt to "take control" of Washington , as the Republican has been threatening to do since the beginning of his term. The US capital is part of the District of Columbia and is not located in a US state. The city is partially autonomous, with some parts of its administration shared with the federal government, and traditionally Democratic, the party of current mayor Muriel Bowser.

Bowser called on community leaders in the capital to "rally" in support of the city in response to Trump's actions, which she called "authoritarian pressure."

"What you shouldn't do is wait for me to tell you what to do," he said. "This is a time when the community needs to step in, and we all need to do what we can in our space, in our area, to protect our city, protect our autonomy, and overcome this situation."

When asked about the military's role in the city, the mayor said she wasn't fully aware of the plans. "My expectation, though it may change, is that they will station the guard on federal property—this includes parks, monuments, and federal buildings," she said.

According to The New York Times, soldiers were positioned in the Washington Monument area. The publication says the soldiers remained at the site for a maximum of two hours. "We just did a presence patrol to stay among the people, to be seen," said Sergeant Cory Boroff.

Protesters are urging residents to make noise every day at 8 p.m. local time for the duration of the intervention. In at least one DC neighborhood, Adams Morgan, the "panelaço" (banging of pots and pans) could be heard on Tuesday.

Announcing the decision, Trump declared this the day to liberate Washington. "We're going to clean up the city," he said. The president stated that he will clean up the capital's parks, referring to the evacuation of homeless people , and that he will help them "as much as I can," without detailing what he will do to help them.

The White House also announced Tuesday that people in this situation could be arrested if they don't cooperate with Trump's measures. "Individuals experiencing homelessness will have the option to leave their homes, be taken to a homeless shelter, receive addiction or mental health treatment services, and if they refuse, they will be subject to fines or jail time," said spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

She also stated that the administration is seeking strategies to relocate homeless people "away from the capital." According to the spokesperson, the U.S. Park Police have removed 70 homeless encampments from federal parks since March and are expected to clear the two remaining encampments in the city this week.

On Sunday (10), Trump published a message on his network, Truth Social, in which he said that "the homeless have to leave, IMMEDIATELY ". "We will offer places to stay, but FAR from the capital", he wrote, in his usual capital letters.

Contrary to the idea that the American president is trying to convey , of increased insecurity in the city, the rate of violent crimes in Washington has declined in the last year.

The US president has the prerogative to take action related to federal buildings, but not to act regarding city security, except in cases of emergency, which was Trump's justification for taking over local police. The decision to call in the National Guard in Washington is up to the president, while in other states the governor himself can decide on the use of these troops.

Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi will be in charge of managing the Metropolitan Police Department. "Let me be clear: crime in DC will end. And it will end today," Bondi said.

The National Guard is made up of reserve military personnel. Its use is generally used in emergency situations, such as natural disasters.