US President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration would target Chicago in the next stage of its federal crime crackdown, while also signaling that Washington, DC could face an even harsher intervention.

From the Oval Office, Trump declared: "We'll straighten that one out, probably next, that will be our next one after this. I think Chicago will be our next and then we'll help with New York."

He also singled out DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, accusing her of failing to maintain public safety and warning of deeper federal intervention if she did not change course. "I'm tired of listening to these people say how safe it was before we got here. It was unsafe. It was horrible. And Mayor Bowser better get her act straight, or she won't be mayor very long because we'll take it over with the federal government running like it's supposed to be run," he said.

Broader Federal Strategy

The remarks reflect Trump's determination to expand his law-and-order campaign beyond DC, where his administration has already carried out an unprecedented takeover of local policing. Federal authorities now control the DC Metropolitan Police, have deployed National Guard troops with authorization to carry firearms, and moved forward with plans to secure $2 billion in funding for what Trump describes as a citywide "clean-up."

While Trump frames the measures as necessary for safety, crime data shows violent crime in the capital is at a 30-year low, prompting critics to argue the crackdown is less about public security and more about asserting political control over a Democratic-led city.

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Critics and Protests

Civil rights groups, legal experts, and Democratic leaders warn the policy amounts to a direct attack on majority-Black, Democratic-run cities, undermining local governance in favor of centralized federal power. DC's Attorney General has argued that the federal takeover violates the Home Rule Act, and lawsuits are being prepared to challenge its legality.

The intervention has already triggered widespread protests in Washington, DC. Demonstrators have filled U Street and Dupont Circle chanting "Free DC" and "Hands off DC," while federal officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have been heckled during public appearances. Protesters accuse Trump of turning the capital into a test case for authoritarian overreach.

🚨BREAKING: MASSIVE crowd of protesters has gathered in Washington DC to protest Trump eliminating CRIME in the City.

They’re yelling: "Black Lives Matter!”pic.twitter.com/3R0nPyNMHu

— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) August 21, 2025

Observers note that the strategy recalls Trump's earlier Operation Legend in 2020, when federal agents were sent into cities like Chicago and Kansas City, a move criticized after reports surfaced of federal personnel detaining protesters and bypassing local law enforcement.

Looking Ahead

With Chicago now designated as the next target, and New York City potentially to follow, Trump appears determined to export his DC model of federalized policing across America's largest urban centers. Supporters view this as decisive leadership against crime.

Opponents counter that it is a politically driven power grab, designed to weaken Democratic city governments and erode democratic checks on presidential authority.

Read more: Trump’s costly DC military surge burns $1M a day: The Intercept