President Donald Trump took unprecedented steps toward federalizing Washington, D.C., saying it’s needed to fight crime even as city leaders pointed to data showing violence is down.

President Trump has declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC, seizing control of the city’s police force and sending in 800 National Guard troops. He says it’s a mission to rescue the capital from violence — but DC’s mayor insists crime is actually at historic lows.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the federal government could take control of Washington D.C. if the local government "doesn't get its act together," with his comments coming in a social media post complaining about crime in the U.