Trump visits with DC National Guard as administration cracks down on the capital's 'crime crisis'

President Donald Trump on Thursday evening met with federal law enforcement officers in Anacostia, including the Washington, D.C. National Guard, who are responding to an ongoing "crime crisis" in the nation's capital.

Trump announced on Thursday morning that he would patrol with the guard in order to review the effects of his crackdown on crime, homelessness and illegal immigration in the federal city. D.C. crime has decreased in recent years but the city still has one of the highest crime rates in the country. 

The president visited the United States Park Police headquarters to meet approximately 300 federal employees and officers, where he thanked them for their work and said that he and D.C. residents feel safer now.

“I feel very safe now, and I’m hearing people are very safe,” Trump told the crowd. “You people are winners. And I just think it’s really, it’s such an honor to be with you. And we’re going to make Washington, D.C., great again ... We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while."

The White House said there have been 630 arrests related to the crackdown so far.

The president, who traveled with other members of his administration, had pizza and burgers for the troops. 

The visit comes a day after Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met National Guard troops at Union Station.

National Guard troops are expected to stay in the city for 30 days, but the deployment could be extended if Trump and Congress deem it necessary. Trump can only authorize the deployment for 30 days without congressional approval.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.