An Authoritarian Dress Rehearsal

Source: In These Times
by Alberto Toscano

“On August 11, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a ‘crime emergency’ in Washington, D.C., and mandating a 30-day federal takeover of its Metropolitan Police Department. He ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the District of Columbia National Guard to patrol the city’s streets, alongside other federal law enforcement agencies, and promised the capital’s ‘Liberation Day’ was coming, as the combined federal force would free D.C. from ​’the cesspool of crime and homelessness that it has become after decades of unilateral Democrat leadership.’ Or, as Trump declared on Truth Social, ​’Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!’ Americans may be forgiven for feeling freedom fatigue; they’ve endured at least two ‘Liberation Days’ already.” (08/25/25)

https://inthesetimes.com/article/trump-washington-takeover-military-national-guard