President Donald Trump said the state of Washington, D.C., is a reflection of the nation’s image, calling its current condition “dirty” and “embarrassing.” Speaking after declaring a state of emergency in the capital, Trump admitted he was “embarrassed” to discuss the city’s decline.

“This is a tragic emergency. And it’s embarrassing for me to be up here. You know, I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday. I don’t like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was,” Trump said.

On Monday, Trump announced an unprecedented escalation in law enforcement efforts, deploying the National Guard to patrol the streets and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. The move comes amid his broader push to restore public safety and address crime in the nation’s capital.