Overview

• President Trump demanded that Washington, D.C., change its juvenile justice laws to prosecute teens as adults starting at age 14.
• He warned that he would assume federal control of the city if local officials do not implement those changes.
• He used graphic imagery on Truth Social, sharing a bloodied victim photo to dramatize his claims of rampant youth violence.
• Official data show that violent crime in D.C. fell 35 percent in 2024 and has continued to decline in 2025.
• Experts note that any federal takeover would require Congress to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973.