WASHINGTON — President Trump’s deployment of hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops in Washington, DC, has aimed to tackle rising crime, and many residents and business owners say they are already noticing a difference in safety.
“All my employees, including myself, feel much safer, and even our customers seem happier when they come into the store,” said Indu Bhatia, who runs a liquor store about half a mile from the White House.
Bhatia added that her store had been targeted by thieves so frequently that she had to invest heavily in renovations to boost security.
“All we can do as small business owners is protect ourselves,” she said.
She added that the improvements go beyond the National Guard and federal agents on the streets, noting that Trump’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department has also made a positive difference.
“I think the local police have been doing their jobs, certainly better,” Bhatia added.
Washington has long been one of the nation’s most violent major cities, with a murder rate higher than Chicago’s and nearly seven times that of New York City.
While overall violence has been trending downward this year, certain crimes that affect everyday residents have surged compared with the pre-pandemic era.
Carjackings jumped 241% between 2019 and 2024, and vehicle thefts rose 143%.
The murder rate, though lower than its pandemic peak, remains 12% above 2019 levels.
Supporters of Trump’s intervention say they hope it will help restore safety and order in the city.
Indu Bhatia, owner of a liquor store about half a mile from the White House, told The Post that “my employees and I feel much safer.”
Mike, a 22-year-old Johns Hopkins University student spending time in the nearby Federal Triangle neighborhood, said the federal takeover of the DC police force “reflects a renewed effort by the Trump administration to reallocate resources and address the problem differently.”
He added that he has spoken with some of the National Guard troops stationed around the city and described them as “pretty nice guys.”
One National Guardsman stationed near the Navy Memorial, after receiving a fist bump from a supportive local, said they’ve witnessed a lot of encouragement from residents.
“We’ve had many people say, ‘I’m glad you’re here doing what you’re doing’ — a lot of fist-bumps and selfies,” he said.
Mahesh, 26, a government employee who commutes to DC from Maryland, said he’s noticed quicker response times from the police.
“Recently, I went to the White House and saw someone had left a bag outside. Right away, a cop approached and was asking people whose bag it was. The police are very alert, and I feel the area is very secure,” he said.
“I think Trump is doing the right thing in taking care of the city,” he added.
A DC courts employee said he has observed an increase in quality-of-life cases coming into the courthouse.
“I’ve always kept my head on a swivel. For some people, it may be a noticeable change, but for my job, the main observation is that more crimes are ending up in court,” he said.
“There’s a strong possibility the crackdown has led to more of these cases being processed through the judicial system.”
The nation’s capital ended a nearly unprecedented 12-day streak without a murder on Tuesday, but overall crime statistics have declined since Trump’s intervention, according to the DC Police Union.
Amid the deployment of federal troops, the nation’s capital went 12 days without a reported murder.
In a post on X Monday, the union reported that over the past 14 days, overall crime in the city has dropped 11%, with significant declines across multiple categories, including robberies (-42%), assaults with a deadly weapon (-13%), carjackings (-85%), vehicle thefts (-24%), violent crime (-25%), and property crime (-10%).
One DC Metro employee expressed mixed feelings about the troop deployment but acknowledged its potential as a deterrent.
“It does get rid of a lot of the foolishness inside malls, Metro stations, and businesses just by being there,” said Alex, 49.
“You might have someone who’s about to act out, but when they see the National Guard, they think, ‘I’m not going to do anything.’ It makes some people think twice.”
However, not everyone welcomed the increased police and troop presence.
National Guard members patrol Metro Center station in Washington, D.C., carrying firearms as part of their security duties.
“Having the Guard here is idiotic,” said Christian Meyers, a DC native of about 50 years who works for a nonprofit, to The Post.
“I just think it’s going to end up like Kent State. If they don’t leave, eventually someone’s going to pull a gun and shoot a minor—a kid.”
Courtney, who works in government affairs, described the troop deployment as little more than a “publicity stunt” for the Trump administration.
“I don’t think it’s a response to crime in the city. I live in Southeast Washington, and if the concern were genuine, efforts would focus on neighborhoods experiencing the most crime. It feels like the security presence is concentrated in areas suited for photo ops,” she said.
“Living in Navy Yard, we’ve seen a lot of teenagers roaming on scooters. Having Capitol Police or DC Police patrolling on bikes would make much more sense for addressing local crime than National Guard or DEA agents, who aren’t trained for that.”
