President Donald Trump said he thinks it’s a great idea for reporters who claim that D.C. crime is not a problem to go on a ride-along with law enforcement to get an accurate sense of the situation in the nation’s capital.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference from the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump took questions about his latest move to federalize law enforcement in the nation’s capital due to out-of-control crime.

READ MORE:  ABC Anchor Shuts Down Dem D.C. Talking Point With Shocking Line About Crime Around News Bureau

MORE: Big: Trump Administration Takes Control of the District of Columbia

One reporter asked President Trump if he would “encourage members of the press to do ride-alongs with the D.C. police to understand how serious this crime issue is.”

🚨NEW 🚨.@POTUS supports journalists downplaying how bad crime in Washington D.C. is to “ride along” with police and see for themselves. @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/nNFTg16Jwh

— Nicole Silverio (@NicoleMSilverio) August 13, 2025

Trump didn’t hesitate and almost answered before the reporter was done speaking.

“Sure!” the President said. “It’s okay with me if they want to do it. We’re going to work with the D.C. police, a lot of very good people in there. Not all. But a lot are very good, very professional.”

“And the numbers are worse than they ever… don’t let anybody tell you they’re not,” he added, pointing to the crime stats Democrats and those in the media have tried to point to, which my RedState colleague Bonchie reported aren’t exactly what they claim to be.

“We are going to be very open about what we are doing. So, if the media wants to ride with the police,” Trump continued. “If they want to do it. If they feel it’s safe, that would be okay.”

At one point, President Trump took a question about the current thirty-day limit on the federalization of police to crack down on crime in the city unless Congress extends it, and he admitted it’s going to take longer.

REPORTER: Your federalization of the police has a 30 day limit unless Congress acts to extend it…@POTUS: “We expect to be before Congress very quickly… We’re going to need a crime bill… We’re going to be asking for extensions on that—long-term extensions.” pic.twitter.com/SRuIWBGTHq

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 13, 2025

“We expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump replied. “And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime. But we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously.”

“So, we’re going to need a crime bill that we’re putting in, and it’s going to pertain initially to D.C. We’re going to use it as a very positive example. And we’re going to be asking for extensions on that-long-term extensions, because you can’t have thirty days.”

SEE: Here’s the Left’s Plan to Stop Trump’s Move Against D.C. Crime – and It’s As Lame As You Would Think

ALSO: D.C. Peaceful? The Federalist’s Entrance Was Blocked by a Screaming Vagrant. Cops Did Nothing.

On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dropped the surprising number of arrests on just the first night after Trump had announced the crackdown in D.C. to end violent crime, RedState reported.

“As part of the president’s massive law enforcement surge, last night, approximately 850 officers and agents were surged across the city,” Leavitt said. “They made a total of 23 arrests, including multiple other contacts.”

🚨LAW & ORDER IS HERE

Last night 850 officers & agents were SURGED across DC.

23 total arrests were made consisting of:

Homicide
Firearms offenses (6 illegal guns)
Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
Lewd acts
Stalking
Drunk driving
Possession of a high-cap mag
Etc. pic.twitter.com/Gk4aF9NERt

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 12, 2025

The White House press secretary then provided a long list of the arrests made, which included the following:

• Homicide

• Firearms offenses (6 illegal handguns were seized)

• Possession with intent to distribute narcotics

• Lewd acts

• Stalking

• Possession of a high-capacity magazine

• Driving under the influence

She noted that this is just the beginning, pointing out that the Trump administration over the next month will “relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the district who breaks the law, undermines public safety, and endangers law-abiding Americans.”

Following Trump’s announcement, the D.C. Police Union showed its support for Trump’s crackdown as well. Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton said that immediate action was needed to turn things around, as RedState reported.

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