U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to put Washington, D.C., under full federal control to reduce crime, even as city officials stressed crime is already falling. While Trump does have some authority over the capital city's police force and National Guard soldiers,

President Trump announced plans Monday to exercise more federal control over Washington, D.C., including by taking control of the city’s police department and sending in National Guard troops. We discuss the reasons behind Trump’s actions and whether he has the authority to take them.

During President Trump’s announcement of the Kennedy Center Honorees, Trump criticized D.C.'s push for statehood, which has been raised as an issue again with his takeover of the city police department,