Trump Vows to Clear DC of Homeless

The president recently erupted with rage at the spate of crime roiling Washington, DC, after former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine, also known as “Big Balls,” was bludgeoned around 3 a.m. last Sunday.

Coristine, 19, who has since moved to the Social Security Administration, was assaulted by about 10 juveniles after attempting to intervene in an apparent carjacking, according to a police report.

At least two of his alleged attackers were later arrested, and there is a $10,000 award for information that leads to the apprehension of the others.

Trump shared a picture of Coristine bloodied from the attack near DuPont Circle, roughly a mile away from the White House.

Unlike other cities in the US, DC is governed by the 1973 Home Rule Act, which delegates certain powers to its mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia. Congress has to review any laws the council passed and can overrule them, though it rarely does.

Some Republicans have floated a federal takeover of DC to address crime within the city.

Despite her differences with Trump, Bowser has sought to refrain from alienating him. She met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last year and privately expressed that she shares his goal of making DC safer and cleaner.

Violent crime in DC is down 26% from last year, homicides are down 12%, and overall crime is down 7%, according to data from the DC Metropolitan Police Department. Violent crime in 2024 had fallen 35% from 2023.

Still, DC has one of the highest homicide rates in the country, notching fourth place in 2023, according to USA Facts.

The data on how DC stacks up against Baghdad is a bit murky.