President Donald Trump expressed strong approval of the military’s presence in Washington, D.C., following his recent declaration of a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

“People are so happy to see our military going into D.C. and getting these thugs out,” Trump said, emphasizing public support for the crackdown. The president noted that many of those arrested had prior criminal records, underscoring his administration’s zero-tolerance approach to crime.

The move follows Trump’s August 14, 2025 announcement, which authorized the deployment of law enforcement and National Guard forces to address rising crime in the district. According to ABC News, 23 arrests were made shortly after the emergency declaration.

Trump has framed the action as part of his broader commitment to restoring safety and order in the capital, saying the initiative reflects the will of the people and the duty of government to protect law-abiding citizens.