Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of Washington DC After Attack on Doge Worker

In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again threatened federal control over Washington, D.C., following an attempted carjacking that injured a former Doge worker. The incident has reignited Trump's long-standing criticism of the nation’s capital, which he has repeatedly labeled a “dirty, crime-ridden death trap.”

The attack occurred on Sunday morning local time in the 1400 block of Swann Street Northwest, a quiet residential neighborhood. According to police, two teenagers approached Edward Coristine, a former Doge employee now working at the Social Security Administration, and another individual who were standing by their vehicle. The suspects allegedly demanded the car and assaulted one of the victims.

During the incident, a police cruiser pulled into the area, prompting the suspects to flee. One of the victims was treated on the scene, though the attack was not targeted, as confirmed by a police spokesman. The suspects, a 15-year-old boy and girl from Maryland, were arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking. They are currently being held at the city’s youth detention center.

Trump responded swiftly to the incident, using his Truth Social platform to threaten federal intervention. “If DC doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run,” he wrote, accompanied by an image of a young person smeared in blood and sitting shirtless on the ground.

Elon Musk, who previously led the U.S. Doge Service, also commented on the attack, calling for the federalization of Washington, D.C. The incident has further fueled Trump’s ongoing campaign to exert control over the city, which he has long claimed is plagued by crime and mismanagement.

The attack is not an isolated incident. In June, 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was killed in crossfire near the District’s convention center. He was working for Republican Representative Ron Estes of Kansas. No one has been charged in his death, underscoring the growing concerns about safety in the nation’s capital.

Trump and the Republican-led Congress have repeatedly criticized the Democratic-led city, blaming liberal policies for the rise in crime. However, according to DC police data, violent crime has decreased by 26% year-to-date compared to 2024. This contrast has sparked debate over whether the city is truly as dangerous as Trump portrays it.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office declined to comment on the incident, while DC Attorney-General Brian Schwalb described the attack as “disturbing.” He emphasized the need for accountability, stating that when the Metropolitan Police Department presents cases with sufficient evidence, the attorney-general’s office will pursue prosecution.

Trump’s threats of federal intervention have not gone unnoticed. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, who recently visited the White House, emphasized the need to address crime in the city. “Our job is to get guns off the street, drugs off the street, take care of those individuals who are threatening, carjacking other people and make this city safe and clean again,” she said in a video posted to her X account.

While the U.S. Attorney for DC has the power to charge 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for certain violent crimes, the attorney-general’s office typically handles juvenile cases. A spokesperson for Pirro declined to comment on the Coristine case, stating it was not handled by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Edward Coristine, who recently moved into a senior advisory role at the State and Homeland Security departments, has raised concerns among some diplomats regarding his access to sensitive information. His tech billionaire boss, Elon Musk, has been increasingly involved in America’s diplomatic apparatus, prompting scrutiny over potential security risks.

Trump’s push for federal control over DC is part of a broader agenda. This spring, he established the “DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” aimed at addressing issues like homelessness and graffiti. At an executive order signing, he stated that “somebody from Doge was very badly hurt” and warned that DC will have to “straighten their act out in the terms of government and in terms of protection, or we’re going to have to federalise and run it the way it’s supposed to be run.”

Democrats have long controlled local government in DC, though their authority is limited. Congress has the power to override local laws and grant the president’s administration control over the city’s public safety apparatus. The Home Rule Act of 1973 gave residents the right to elect their own mayor and city council, but the city’s autonomy remains constrained.

As tensions continue to rise between Trump and DC officials, the threat of federal intervention looms large. Whether the city will be taken over or not remains uncertain, but the rhetoric from Trump and his allies shows no signs of abating.