On Tuesday, President Trump called for changes to D.C.’s laws to enable the prosecution of teenagers aged 14 and older as adults, with the goal of imposing longer prison sentences.
He emphasized that crime in Washington, D.C., is spiraling out of control, with young offenders—some as young as 14, 15, and 16—committing random attacks, muggings, assaults, and shootings on innocent residents. According to him, many of these minors are quickly released because they believe they face no real consequences.
President Trump argues that the laws should be amended so that minors can be prosecuted as adults from the age of 14 and face substantial prison time. He pointed to recent violent incidents, including a brutal assault on a young victim by local offenders.
He emphasized that for the city to be safe, clean, and attractive—both for its residents and to be viewed positively by the world—D.C. must take swift action. If officials fail to act, he warned he will consider exercising federal authority to take control of the city and implement law enforcement measures to restore order.
He also remarked that such steps might have been necessary much earlier to prevent the horrors experienced by countless young victims—like the recent tragedy involving a young man—highlighting his determination to address the ongoing violence, including threatening to federalize the city if crime continues unchecked.
