By Atoyebi Nike
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the swift removal of homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., saying they will be relocated far from the nation’s capital.
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump shared photographs of roadside tents and litter, declaring, “The homeless have to move out immediately. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the capital. The criminals, you don’t have to move out; we’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
The president also referenced an upcoming Monday press conference on crime and cleanliness in the U.S. capital, promising to make the city “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.”
Washington’s governance is unique, with a locally elected mayor and council but significant federal oversight. Trump, a Republican, has often clashed with the city’s Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser.
According to U.S. media reports, the federal government is considering plans to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to support Trump’s initiative, although no final decision has been made. The president has not provided specifics on how the removal would be carried out.
Just two weeks earlier, Trump signaled a crackdown on homelessness near the White House, saying, “I think it’s terrible, and we’ll have them removed immediately.”
