Trump Will Expel Homeless People From Washington

UNSPLASH/Nathan Dumao ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump promised to expel homeless people aka homeless people from the nation's capital and imprison criminals. Trump took this policy even though the Mayor of Washington argued there was currently no spike in crime.

Although details of the plan are not clear, the government is preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington.

Trump has yet to make a final decision, US officials said, saying their troop numbers and roles are still being determined.

Unlike in California and other states, where governors usually decide when to activate National Guard troops, the president directly controls the National Guard in Washington, DC.

Examples of the city's previous National Guard deployment include a response to the January 6, 2021 attacks on the US Capitol Building by a gang of Trump supporters.

"The homeless must move, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform.

"We will give you a place to live, but stay away from the capital city. The criminals, you don't need to move. We will imprison you where you should be," he continued.

The White House declined to explain what legal authority Trump would use to expel people from Washington. The president of the Republican Party only controls federal land and buildings in the city.

Trump plans to hold a press conference on Monday to "discontinue crimes of violence in Washington, DC." It is not clear whether he will announce further details about his planned expulsion at the time.

There are 3,782 single people who experience homelessness every night in this city of about 700,000 people, according to Community Partnership, an organization that seeks to reduce homelessness in DC.

Most of these individuals are in emergency shelters or transitional housing, instead of on the streets, he said.

A White House official said on Friday more federal law enforcement officers were deployed in the city following a violent attack on a young administration staff that angered the president.

Allegations of crimes investigated by federal agents late Friday included several people carrying unauthorized pistols, a driver whose driver's license was suspended, and a trail bike rider.

The official said 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across the city on Saturday.

The city's police department said violent crimes fell 26% in DC in the first seven months of 2025, compared to last year, while crimes as a whole fell by about 7%.