President Donald Trump declared Sunday that homeless people in Washington, D.C., must leave the capital "immediately," promising they would be relocated "far from the Capital" as part of a broader effort to make the city "safer and more beautiful."
Because Washington is a federal district rather than a state, it falls under the constitutional authority of Congress rather than a governor, meaning any presidential attempt to take over the city would raise serious constitutional, legal, and political concerns.
The president already has unusual power over the capital, including direct control of the D.C. National Guard, and bypassing local leadership could pave the way for militarized control or federal overreach.
Such a move could further undermine D.C.'s limited self-governance—its residents lack voting representation in Congress and see their laws subject to congressional override—while setting a precedent for using federal authority to override local decision-making in other U.S. territories.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "We're having a News Conference tomorrow in the White House. I'm going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. 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."
"Be prepared!" he added. "There will be no 'MR. NICE GUY.' We want our Capital BACK."
The announcement comes amid heightened federal law enforcement activity in D.C. and follows Trump's earlier threats to place the city under direct federal control.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the city's leadership, calling D.C. unsafe and poorly managed, but his latest comments mark an escalation in rhetoric and policy toward the homeless population, coupled with a pledge to intensify criminal enforcement.