Trump administration sued by Washington DC after 'hostile takeover' of local police fuelling heated debate

Washington DC has sued the Trump administration, following its 'hostile takeover' of its police department in the nation's capital.

For those not up to speed, 800 National Guard members deployed by the US president began arriving in Washington on Tuesday after the White House ordered federal forces to take over the city’s police department and reduce crime.

The 79-year-old Republican leader cited a 'crime emergency' and announced he would be activating the guard members and taking over the department in a move that's not gone down well with local officials.

And things got even more heated when Trump named the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief, a federal official, as the new emergency head of their Metropolitan police department (MPD), with all the powers of a police chief.

Now, earlier today (Friday 15 August), as the situation continues to escalate, the District of Columbia's attorney general, Brian Schwalb, has hit back by filing a lawsuit claiming that the president and his administration are going beyond legal federal power.

The District of Columbia attorney general, Brian Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

A statement by Schwalb in the suit reads: “By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the district’s right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk."

It's challenging both the lawsuit, both Trump's orders on Monday and Attorney General Pam Bondi's Thursday order insisting federal control of the police force.

He added that the Trump administration’s 'unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home' and called his actions 'the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced' before reassuring people that they're 'fighting to stop it'.

Reacting to the decision to sue, there has been a mixed bag of responses on social media, with some users thinking it's the right call and others arguing that what Trump is doing is positive.

Affirming the former, one user wrote on Twitter: "It's good decision," while a second added: "Accountability finally catching up - about time."

"As they should," penned a third, with a fourth chimed in with: "Good, end the illegal occupation."

It comes after announced he is placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

However, others were firmly on Trump's side, with one person questioning: "Doesn't Washington, D.C have some of the worst crime in America? Why stop him?"

A second argued: "Like it or not, at least the city is safer right now. If you have been there at night there’s no way you’d think it was safe."

While a third angrily penned: "This is ridiculous!! We stand with Trump!"

And while some Americans have strong opinions, others are simply interested in how the unique legal drama will pan out.

People wrote on Twitter: "DC going after trump administration is big idk this legal battle could get complicated fast" and "Good luck with that lawsuit."

Another wrote: "This raises big questions about federal vs. local authority. Curious to see how the courts will handle it."

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, told Tyla in a statement: "The Trump Administration has the lawful authority to assert control over the D.C. Police, which is necessary due to the emergency that has arisen in our Nation’s Capital as a result of failed leadership. The Democrats’ efforts to stifle this tremendous progress are par for the course for the Defund the Police, Criminals-First Democrat Party."