Trump Compares Washington D.C. to a Troubled Property in Need of Renovation

President Trump has characterized the nation’s capital as a neglected property desperately needing restoration.

He described Washington as "unsafe," "dirty," and "disgusting," threatened by "bloodthirsty criminals" and burdened by homelessness, asserting it must be revitalized and made "beautiful again."

This somber depiction aligns with Trump’s long-held view of U.S. cities as centers of violence, a perspective shaped by his experiences in New York City during the crime surge of the 1970s and 1980s. Recently, as he announced a temporary federal takeover of the city’s police force, he suggested his real estate expertise equips him better than local officials to combat crime and homelessness in Washington.

"It’s a natural instinct for someone in real estate," Trump told reporters, comparing his planned overhaul of Washington to his recent gold-accented renovations at the White House. "I have a talent for fixing things up, and I enjoy doing it."

He vowed to eliminate trash, graffiti, potholes, and homelessness from the capital, despite recent data showing violent crime has dropped to a 30-year low. Although youth crime, including robberies and carjackings, remains a challenge, overall crime rates have substantially decreased in recent years.

In 2024, Washington recorded a violent crime rate of approximately 1,005 incidents per 100,000 residents, based on FBI data. This rate is lower than in similarly sized cities such as Memphis and Detroit but higher than in places like Denver, Seattle, and Louisville, Kentucky.