DC Locals Have Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Police Takeover

One resident said that “it’s time for a change,” while another was more skeptical, saying, “It’s to show that he’s in control.”

U.S. Capitol Police officers patrol the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol building on March 7, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—Residents of the nation’s capital showed various reactions to President Donald Trump’s plan to federalize the local police force.

Early on Aug. 11, Trump announced that he would take control of the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department in an effort to reduce crime and homelessness in the city.