Trump Hints NYC Could Be Next in Federal Crime Response

President Donald Trump suggested on Monday, August 12, 2025, that New York City could be the next focus of his federal efforts to address crime, following his temporary federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police and deployment of 800 National Guard troops. Speaking at the White House, Trump said, “I’m going to look at New York in a little while… Let’s do this together,” adding that he hopes the city takes initiative to “self-clean-up.”

Legal experts note that Trump lacks the authority to seize control of the NYPD, as the D.C. Home Rule Act, which allowed federal control in Washington, does not apply to New York or other cities. However, he could deploy National Guard troops or federal agents to protect federal properties within the city.

Trump’s remarks come amid his broader focus on Democratic-led cities, citing New York as having a crime problem despite a 10-month decline in reported incidents. During a July Cabinet meeting, he also referenced the potential influence of local politicians, like Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, as reasons for federal intervention.

While the exact scope of any federal action in New York remains unclear, local authorities and legal experts emphasize that Trump’s options would be limited to protecting federal property rather than taking over the city’s police department.