Featured Image Credit: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Crime
Lucy Devine
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Crime
US President Donald Trump's latest announcement on tackling crime has some saying it's 'game over' as they brand the move 'wild'.
The shocking threat, which he penned on Truth Social, came after a former member of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team was assaulted in an alleged carjacking this week.
19-year-old software engineer Edward Coristine says he was surrounded and attacked by a group of ten people near his car in the early hours of Sunday morning (3 August), roughly two miles from the White House.
According to police, authorities arrested two 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl, at the scene. The pair have since been charged with unarmed carjacking, while police continue to hunt for other suspects in the alleged attack.
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In Trump's post, the POTUS uploaded a picture of what some have claimed to be Coristine sitting on the ground, covered in blood, as he branded crime in Washington DC as 'out of control' and warned he could soon take matters into his own hands.
Cruically, the president called for Washington to change its laws, allowing children aged 14 and older to be prosecuted as adults.
The president went on to explain that the offenders are not 'afraid' of the police because they know they will 'be almost immediately released'.
He explained: "Local 'youths' and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 years old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.
"They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now! The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these 'minors' as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.
"The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs. Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see."
Trump went on to explain that if the situation doesn't change, he will have to take Federal control.
"If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore," he continued.
"Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Reposting Trump's comments, Elon Musk also weighed in on what had happened, explaining on Twitter: "A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC.
"A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. It is time to federalize DC."
It's not the first time Trump has spoken about taking control of Washington, DC, and has in the past expressed his desire to conquer crime and homelessness in the city.
But people were pretty alarmed by some of Trump's comments, specifically the idea of prosecuting 14-year-olds as adults.
One person wrote on Twitter: "Why prosecute minors?"
While another said: "Prosecuting 14-year-olds like they’re mob bosses is WILD."
And a third added: "Game over everyone."