Trump claimed that crime in Washington, D.C., is “totally out of control”

Former President Donald Trump’s August 5, 2025, Truth Social post claimed that Washington, D.C., crime is “totally out of control,” citing a violent assault on Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, to advocate for prosecuting juveniles as young as 14 as adults and threatening to federalize D.C. if crime issues persist.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on August 3, 2025, near the 1400 block of Swann Street NW in Logan Circle, where Coristine was severely beaten, sustaining a concussion, while defending a woman during an attempted carjacking by approximately 10 juveniles.

According to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, two 15-year-olds from Hyattsville, Maryland, were arrested at the scene and charged with unarmed carjacking, while others fled; an iPhone 16 was stolen, and the investigation remains active.

Despite Trump’s claims, D.C. police data shows a 35% drop in violent crime from 2023 to 2024 and a 26% decrease in 2025 year-to-date, with specific reductions in homicides (13%), assaults with dangerous weapons (19%), and robberies (29%). However, juvenile crime is a persistent issue, with juveniles accounting for most robbery arrests and 60% of carjacking arrests in early 2025.

Trump’s proposal to prosecute 14-year-olds as adults contrasts with D.C. law, which allows adult charges for 16- and 17-year-olds for serious crimes like murder and armed robbery. His threat to federalize D.C. echoes prior statements, including a July 2025 discussion about taking over the city, and aligns with Republican efforts to challenge D.C.’s home rule, though full federalization would face legal and political hurdles.