Trump White House Issues Crackdown Ultimatum on D.C. Homeless Camps

The White House has issued a stark warning to Washington, D.C.’s homeless population as President Donald Trump pushes ahead with his campaign to “clean up” the nation’s capital.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that federal and local law enforcement will now strictly enforce laws long ignored, vowing to dismantle homeless encampments and address what she described as a crisis that has “ravaged” the city.

Under the new directive, homeless individuals will be given three options: leave voluntarily, move to a shelter, or accept mental health services. Those who refuse face fines or jail time.

Since Trump’s first executive order on homelessness in March, U.S. Park Police have cleared 70 encampments from city parks. Leavitt stressed that the effort includes removing “mentally disturbed individuals” from public spaces to make D.C. “safe and beautiful” again.

Two major camps in federal parks are already scheduled for removal this week. The crackdown comes alongside a surge in law enforcement operations, with 23 arrests reported in one night for crimes ranging from homicide and firearms offenses to DUI, stalking, and drug trafficking.

Trump is also deploying up to 800 National Guard members to the city, despite Democratic leaders pointing to declining crime rates. Leavitt dismissed their claims, accusing “soft-on-crime Democrats” and media activists of ignoring “rampant violence” on the streets.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who initially pushed back on Trump’s portrayal of crime in the capital, now says she will cooperate with the administration. “Right now we have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,” Bowser told reporters.

The move marks one of the most aggressive federal interventions in the capital’s homelessness issue in recent years — and it’s already sparking heated debate over whether it’s a necessary cleanup or an overreach.