'We're taking our capital back': Trump deploys National Guard to Washington DC in 'crime crackdown'

Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Trump announced the National Guard's deployment and vowed to federalise the city's police department in a bid to "get rid of the slums".

It follows a pledge by the US President to purge the US Capitol of homeless people, after he told those who are currently living on the streets to leave or face eviction.

'We are going to take our capital back,' Trump insisted on Monday, adding he was going to "clean it up".

He added the move to deploy troops would "re-establish law, order, and public safety".

The US President announced the plans to place the Washington DC Police Department under "direct federal control", as he cited the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.

"Entire neighbourhoods are now under curfews," Trump said on Monday.

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The US President insisted "dramatic action" is required, with Trump's insisting:

• A formal declaration that a public safety emergency in Washington DC is now underway
• Pam Bondi will take control of the Federal Police Department
• The National Guard would take to the streets within the next week
• The deployment of more police officers and FBI agents on the streets of Washington
• Crime was now 'out of control' in the city - despite statistics showing it is currently at a 30-year low
• The crackdown would extend to homeless individuals
• His administration would remove criminal gangs from the city

Moments later, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the National Guard would be "flowing into the streets of Washington" in the coming week.

During the press conference, Hegseth cited the recent deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles to quell protests following widespread ICE raids.

Mr Trump went as far as suggesting the murder rate in Washington DC is currently higher than some "of the worst places on Earth" in a bid to justify the move.

The insistence from the US President comes despite statistics suggesting that violent crime in the city was at a 30-year low.

The last recorded deployment of the National Guard in Washington DC was on 6 January, 2021 - a date that saw Trump supporters, dubbed 'January 6 insurrectionists', storm the US Capitol.

During his lengthy monologue that spanned topics including Ukraine, homelessness and immigration, the US President found his way back to the subject of crime, adding that the number of car thefts and car jackings had increased in recent months.

"They're not going to be fighting back long," he insisted, branding the US capital a "sanctuary for criminals".

The press conference saw the US President insist that "caravans of mass youth" are "rampaging" through city streets of the city.

Addressing reporters, Trump insisted they were "victims of it too".

"We're getting rid of the slums too," Trump said as he turned his attention to homelessness.

"I know it's not politically correct. No, we're getting rid of the slums where they live."

Trump's pledge was followed by a statement by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who noted that she wants to be "crystal clear" that "crime in DC is ending and it's ending today".

Donald Trump claimed during the press conference that he once offered 10,000 troops to Washington DC in a bid to help stop the 6 January 2021 attack on the Capitol.

The seemingly bizarre claim relates to the attack sparked by his supporters, after the US President wrongly claimed the 2020 election result had been stolen from him.

The press conference concluded with comments on Putin and his upcoming talks with the Russian leader.

It was the strongest evidence yet that Trump would agree to a planned ceasefire involving the transfer of land to Russia - despite Zelenskyy not attending the summit.