Key Point Summary โ Trump Threatens DC Take-Over
- Trump vows federal control of DC if crime is not curbed
- Incident involving Edward โBig Ballsโ Coristine sparks outrage
- Coristine defended a woman from an attempted carjacking
- Elon Musk and Trump demand tougher action on juvenile crime
- Attorney General Brian Schwalb says violent teens will face charges
- Jeanine Pirro pledges crackdowns on guns, drugs, and carjackings
- Trump calls DC crime โtotally out of controlโ and warns of action
President Donald Trump has intensified his feud with Washington, D.C., leaders, warning he will take direct federal control if they fail to stop crime. His threat followed a brutal street assault on Edward โBig Ballsโ Coristine โ a 19-year-old former member of Elon Muskโs original DOGE crew โ who left the scene bloodied but credited with saving a woman from a violent attack.
Trump, visibly angry, told reporters that Coristine โwas very badly hurtโ after confronting eight teenage suspects near Dupont Circle. He accused city leaders of letting crime spiral out of control and failing to protect residents.
Trump Calls Out DC Leadership
โThey must straighten their act out in terms of government and protection,โ Trump said. โOr we will federalize and run it the way itโs supposed to be run.โ
The president ripped into the cityโs juvenile crime problem, naming offenders as young as 14. He claimed they โrandomly attack, mug, maim, and shoot innocent citizensโ because they expect no real punishment. โThat changes now,โ he vowed.
Marko Elez, a friend of Coristine, posted a photo of the injured young man and called him โa heroโ for intervening during the attempted carjacking. The image spread quickly online.
Musk Demands Action
Elon Musk confirmed the assault in a social media post. โA Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her, and took a severe beating that caused a concussion, but he saved her,โ Musk wrote. โIt is time to federalize DC.โ
Coristine, known for his all-night work sessions and couch-surfing in DOGEโs early days, now recovers while authorities search for the suspects.
Attorney General Brian Schwalb promised consequences for violent juveniles. โWhen MPD brings us solid cases, we will prosecute them and ensure they face real consequences,โ he told the Daily Mail.
Pirroโs Law-and-Order Pledge
Jeanine Pirro, the new U.S. attorney for D.C., posted a video from the White House pledging to target guns, drugs, and repeat offenders. โIf you donโt buy into it, youโre going to have to deal with us,โ she warned.
Trump pushed for new laws to allow prosecutors to charge violent teenagers as adults. โWashington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans โ and for the world to see,โ he wrote.
Public Reaction Splits
Trumpโs takeover threat has split public opinion. Supporters argue that D.C. leaders have failed and welcome stronger enforcement. Critics say federal control could inflame tensions and undermine local governance.
Some residents expressed relief at the idea of aggressive policing. Others accused Trump of seizing on the incident for political advantage. โWe need solutions, not a power grab,โ one D.C. voter said.
Outlook: A Showdown Brewing
If Trump acts, it would be one of the most direct federal interventions in the capitalโs affairs in decades. The move could trigger a showdown with the cityโs mayor, the D.C. Council, and civil rights groups โ all under a national spotlight.
Trump has given D.C. leaders an ultimatum: fix the crime problem or face a federal takeover. With public anger growing and Coristineโs battered face now symbolizing the cityโs troubles, the pressure mounts daily.
