Trump Teases Big Announcement On Cleaning Up DC

President Donald Trump hinted at a major announcement regarding his plans to restore safety in Washington, D.C., following the recent shooting incident in the city.

A shooter fatally shot Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Kansas Rep. Ron Estes, in Washington, D.C., Monday night, his congressional office confirmed. Trump revealed his plans for cleaning up D.C. to Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese, responding to questions about Congress potentially taking back control of the city amid the violence.

In May, two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., just over a month before the shooting of Tarpinian-Jachym. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the embassy staff members’ identities and said D.C. police had launched an investigation, with Noem assuring that efforts to gather more information were underway.

A locally elected mayor and a 13-member city council currently govern Washington, D.C., as established by the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973. This law granted residents the right to elect their own local government. Congress, however, retains ultimate authority over the city, holding the power to review and overturn local laws and control the district’s budget.

The shooting highlights persistent concerns about rising crime in Washington, D.C.. Data obtained by the Heritage Foundation from the D.C. Sentencing Commission shows that from 2018 to 2022, fewer than 2% of those caught with an illegal firearm received prison time. In 2024 alone, police recovered nearly 2,900 guns across the district, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.