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Tuesday, August 26, 2025

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3 hours ago
William Upton
Crime
NatSec

Trump Approves National Guard Rapid Response Units.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order to establish National Guard units across the U.S. to address civil disorder and maintain public safety.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Guard members across various states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The order was signed on Monday, August 26, 2025, impacting Washington, D.C. and other locations nationwide.

💬KEY QUOTE: “In addition, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure the availability of a standing National Guard quick reaction force that shall be resourced, trained, and available for rapid nationwide deployment.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The order will enable the federal government to quickly surge resources to assist local law enforcement during riots, natural disasters, or high-profile events where additional security is required.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has directed the Pentagon to create National Guard units in Washington, D.C., and across the nation to manage civil disorder and ensure public safety. The Executive Order, signed by Trump, instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to identify National Guard members who can swiftly assist law enforcement in “quelling civil disturbances and ensuring public safety and order.”

“The Secretary of Defense shall immediately begin ensuring that each State’s Army National Guard and Air National Guard are resourced, trained, organized, and available to assist Federal, State, and local law enforcement in quelling civil disturbances and ensuring the public safety and order whenever the circumstances necessitate, as appropriate under law,” the order, signed on Monday afternoon, states. “In coordination with the respective adjutants general, the Secretary of Defense shall designate an appropriate number of each State’s trained National Guard members to be reasonably available for rapid mobilization for such purposes.”

“In addition, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure the availability of a standing National Guard quick reaction force that shall be resourced, trained, and available for rapid nationwide deployment,” the order adds.

Notably, the Executive Order also directs Secretary Hegseth to “immediately create and begin training, manning, hiring, and equipping a specialized unit within the District of Columbia National Guard… that is dedicated to ensuring public safety and order in the Nation’s capital.”

Since President Trump announced the federalization of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on August 22, 2,200 National Guard troops have been deployed in the nation’s capital—mostly as a deterrent in areas with more moderate crime—allowing the city’s police to surge officers to high-crime neighborhoods. This has led to a marked decline in violent crime in the District of Columbia.

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8 minutes ago
Lawfare

Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Against Entire Maryland Judiciary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by President Donald J. Trump dismissed a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit targeting all 15 federal judges in Maryland, calling it “not ordinary.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: District Judge Thomas Cullen, the Trump administration, and the Maryland federal judges.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Monday in Maryland.

💬KEY QUOTE: “To hold otherwise would run counter to overwhelming precedent, depart from longstanding constitutional tradition, and offend the rule of law.” – Judge Thomas Cullen

🎯IMPACT: The ruling underscores tensions between the judiciary and the Trump administration, with over 200 lawsuits challenging the administration’s policies.

IN FULL

A federal court has dismissed a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit that targeted all 15 federal judges in Maryland. The case stems from an order that blocked the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants who sought to challenge their removal in court.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Cullen, who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump in 2019, described the lawsuit as “not ordinary” and criticized the administration’s approach. He stated, “Any fair reading of the legal authorities cited by Defendants leads to the ineluctable conclusion that this court has no alternative but to dismiss.”

The DOJ had argued that the judges’ pause on deportation proceedings hindered the President’s authority to enforce immigration laws. However, Cullen sided with the Maryland judges, who contended that the lawsuit was an attack on the judiciary.

In his ruling, Cullen emphasized that the administration should address grievances through proper legal channels, stating, “If Trump truly believes that the Maryland judges’ order is illegal, then the administration should avail itself of the tried-and-true recourse available to all federal litigants: It should appeal.”

While the case was always considered a long shot, some in the administration had hoped a win could tamp down the scale of Democratic lawfare currently hampering efforts to deport the millions of illegal immigrants allowed into the country under former President Joe Biden.

There has been tension between President Trump and Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society since he began his second term, with the America First leader contending they recommended bad judges to him during his first term.

Image by Katrin Bolovtsova.

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By Popular Demand.
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48 minutes ago
News

Drunk Ukrainian Arrested for Steering Massive Cargo Ship Into Seattle.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Ukrainian cargo ship captain was charged with operating a vessel while under the influence after piloting a massive container vessel into Seattle while intoxicated.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Oleh Danylin, a 48-year-old Ukrainian cargo ship captain, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on August 20, 2025, when the MSC Jubilee IX arrived at Terminal 5 in Seattle, Washington. Charges were filed on Tuesday, August 26.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A single miscalculation could have put lives, property, and critical shipping lanes in danger.” – Prosecutor’s filing.

🎯IMPACT: Captain Danylin faces up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine if convicted, with further legal proceedings scheduled.

IN FULL

A Ukrainian cargo ship captain, Oleh Danylin, has been charged in King County, Washington, for allegedly piloting a massive container vessel into Seattle, Washington, while intoxicated. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges of Operation of a Vessel While Under the Influence, a gross misdemeanor, against Danylin on Tuesday morning, August 26.

The incident occurred on August 20, 2025, when the MSC Jubilee IX arrived at Terminal 5 in Seattle. A Puget Sound pilot assigned to guide the ship through local waters reported smelling alcohol on Captain Danylin and alerted the U.S. Coast Guard. Danylin denied drinking, claiming the odor was from mouthwash, but failed field sobriety tests. A preliminary breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.241, three times the legal limit. Further testing confirmed levels of 0.253 and 0.254.

Danylin was arraigned in King County District Court, where he entered a plea of not guilty. He was released on personal recognizance but ordered to surrender his passport to the U.S. Coast Guard and barred from operating any vessel while the case is pending. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the risks posed by operating a large cargo vessel while impaired.

“This isn’t just a weekend boater,” the filing stated. “A single miscalculation could have put lives, property, and critical shipping lanes in danger.” While most DUI cases in King County are handled at the city level, the county prosecutor’s office has jurisdiction over certain waterways.

If convicted, Danylin faces up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. His next court appearance is a pre-trial hearing scheduled for August 27, with a routine pre-trial session set for September 27. Prosecutors have requested a jury trial.

Image by Mr.TinMD.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
William Upton
Crime

Trump: ‘If You Kill Someone in D.C., We’re Seeking the Death Penalty.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that federal prosecutors trying homicide cases in the District of Columbia will now be directed to seek the death penalty against those convicted.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, federal prosecutors, and murderers in Washington, D.C.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on August 26, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If somebody kills somebody in the capital—Washington, D.C.—we’re going to be seeking the death penalty.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The new policy aims to serve as a further deterrent to violent crime in D.C.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced that federal prosecutors trying homicide cases in the District of Columbia will now be directed to seek the death penalty against those convicted. The America First leader revealed the federal prosecutorial policy change during a Cabinet Meeting at the White House on Tuesday afternoon.

“Anybody murders someone in the capital, capital punishment,” President Trump said. “Capital, capital punishment. If somebody kills somebody in the capital—Washington, D.C.—we’re going to be seeking the death penalty. And that’s a very strong preventative, and everybody that’s heard it agrees with it.”

“We have no choice. So in D.C., in Washington—states are going to have to make their own decision—but if somebody kills somebody… it is the death penalty,” he added.


While the federal death penalty can be sought in all 50 U.S. states and territories, its application has been exceedingly rare. Currently, there are only three prisoners on federal death row after former President Joe Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 men last December.

Notably, of the 16 federal prisoners executed since 2001, 13 of them were executed during President Trump’s first term between July 2020 and January 2021.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
News
TECH

European Officials Censoring Americans Face Trump Travel Ban.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is considering imposing sanctions on European Union (EU) officials over claims they are censoring Americans through the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, the U.S. State Department, European Union officials, and tech companies.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Discussions are ongoing in the U.S. and EU.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We are monitoring increasing censorship in Europe with great concern but have no further information to provide at this time.” – U.S. State Department spokesman.

🎯IMPACT: Potential visa restrictions on EU officials, heightened tensions between the U.S. and EU, and scrutiny of freedom of expression policies.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump is reportedly considering a range of sanctions, potentially including travel bans, targeting European Union (EU) officials over the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) censoring American voices online and increasing operational costs for U.S.-based tech companies. Sources say the Trump administration is reviewing possible visa restrictions as part of its response strategy.

The Digital Services Act, which came into effect to regulate major online platforms, obliges tech companies to implement censorship regimes, targeting not only clearly unlawful content such as child sexual abuse material but also so-called hate speech. The Trump administration argues that the law imposes excessive constraints on free expression, impacting American users and firms.

In February, U.S. Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized European governments for democratic backsliding and suppression of political speech. The State Department’s annual Human Rights Practices report also flagged instances in Europe where laws against “hateful” or “offensive” speech were curbing political expression.

Vance has not only criticized the EU’s actions, but also the United Kingdom’s. During a visit to Britain earlier this year, he confronted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer directly over the Online Safety Act, warning it infringes on civil liberties. “It is the job of the United States to stand up for free speech,” Vance said in a February interview, warning that both the European Union and the United Kingdom were on a “dangerous path” toward regulating speech in ways incompatible with democratic norms.

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4 hours ago
Crime

Coast Guard Intercepts Record 76,000 Pounds of Drugs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Coast Guard seized over 75,000 pounds of illegal drugs in its largest-ever haul, valued at nearly $473 million.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Defense (DOD), and 34 suspected drug traffickers detained during the operations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: This summer, across the Pacific and Caribbean, with drugs offloaded at Port Everglades, Florida, on Monday.

🎯IMPACT: The interdictions highlight the Coast Guard’s growing role in national security and drug enforcement efforts under the Trump administration.

IN FULL

Over the course of the summer, the United States Coast Guard seized more than 75,000 pounds (34,000 kilograms) of banned narcotics from ships operating in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. The entire cache consisted of about 61,740 pounds of cocaine along with 14,400 pounds of marijuana, with an estimated market value reaching $473 million.

These missions took place in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), focusing on 19 boats transporting drugs in the vicinity of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Aruba.

On Monday, the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton brought the seized narcotics to Port Everglades in Florida. Overall, authorities apprehended 34 individuals suspected of involvement in drug smuggling during these actions, although additional information about the detainees remains unavailable.

This unprecedented confiscation showcases the Trump administration’s commitment to fighting narcotics distribution and protecting American neighborhoods. President Donald J. Trump has announced plans to grow the Coast Guard’s fleet and boost its manpower by 15,000 by 2028, enhancing its ability to tackle drug smuggling through America’s coastal borders.

At present, the Coast Guard operates with around 43,000 full-time personnel, 8,000 reserve members, and 30,000 auxiliary volunteers.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Crime
News

Ukrainian Woman Escapes War, Gets Murdered in U.S.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A 23-year-old Ukrainian woman, Iryna Zarutska, was fatally stabbed at a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday night.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The victim, Iryna Zarutska, and the suspect, Decarlos Brown, a 34-year-old with a history of arrests.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred at 9:55 PM on August 22 at the South End light rail station in North Carolina.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The story is heart-wrenching, and if, obviously, what we’re hearing is true, clearly we need to give that family answers.” – Councilman Edwin Peacock

🎯IMPACT: The killing has left the community shaken and raised concerns about public safety on transit systems.

IN FULL

Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old woman who had recently fled Ukraine in search of safety in the United States, was fatally stabbed last Friday night at a light rail station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Authorities responded to the scene at the South End light rail station at 9:55 PM, where they discovered Zarutska with fatal injuries.

The alleged attacker, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, was arrested shortly afterward and is now facing a charge of first-degree murder. Police reports indicate that Brown is homeless and has a criminal history that dates back to 2011.

Charlotte City Councilman Edwin Peacock has voiced concern about public safety following the killing, particularly with respect to transit infrastructure. “The story is heart-wrenching, and if, obviously, what we’re hearing is true, clearly we need to give that family answers,” Peacock stated. “And we, more importantly, need to give all the citizens who are riding the light rail a lot of confidence that you’re going to be safe.”

Zarutska’s death comes as her home country remains locked in war with Russia. Despite attempts by President Donald J. Trump to facilitate peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the conflict shows no immediate signs of resolution.

At the same time, President Trump has put Washington, D.C. under federal control in order to reduce the same kind of violent crime seen in Charlotte, and is discussing similar crackdowns across the country. America’s capital saw no murders at all for 12 days after Trump deployed the National Guard and officers from several federal law enforcement agencies on the streets to restore order to the city; a streak that ended August 26 with a fatal shooting in Southeast D.C.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
News

Giant Trump Portrait Appears Draped Over Govt Dept in D.C.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A massive portrait of Donald Trump was displayed on the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., featuring his second inaugural portrait, the America 250 logo, and the slogan “American Workers First.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former President Donald Trump, Department of Labor, and critics including Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern and labor organizations like the AFL-CIO.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August 25, 2025, at the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator,” Trump remarked before clarifying, “I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with common sense and a smart person.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The display has sparked comparisons to authoritarian imagery and criticism from labor groups over Trump’s policies affecting workers and unions.

IN FULL

A three-story portrait of Donald Trump was unveiled on the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., on August 25, 2025. The image features Trump’s second inaugural portrait, accompanied by the slogan “American Workers First” and the America 250 initiative logo. An American flag and a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with the same motto flank it.

The portrait has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and labor advocates. Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern compared the display to portraits of North Korean leaders, while California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked it with a satirical post on X (formerly Twitter). Labor groups, including the AFL-CIO, denounced the banner, pointing to Trump’s track record of union rollbacks.

Trump responded to critics during a press event, addressing accusations of authoritarianism. “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator,” he said, before clarifying, “I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with common sense and a smart person.” He also defended his administration’s policies, arguing they are aimed at improving efficiency and addressing national security concerns.

The Trump administration has faced backlash from the far left for its aggressive stance against unions. Over one million federal employees have lost collective bargaining rights since January. Labor groups, however, warn that proposed rollbacks will disproportionately harm minorities and immigrants, focusing less on the American worker and more on the often illegal foreign laborer.

While the Department of Labor has not announced plans for similar displays at other federal buildings, this is not the first time Trump’s image has appeared on government facilities. Earlier this year, a banner featuring Trump and Abraham Lincoln was displayed on the Department of Agriculture building.

Join Pulse+ to comment below and receive exclusive email analyses. Image courtesy of Raheem Kassam.

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By Popular Demand.
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6 hours ago
Politics

Former Trump Labor Sec Acosta Set for Epstein Inquiry Interview.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced that former Labor Secretary and prosecutor Alex Acosta will sit for a transcribed interview as part of a probe into Jeffrey Epstein.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: James Comer, Alex Acosta, and other officials, including former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzalez, Eric Holder, and Jeff Sessions.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The interview is scheduled for September 19, as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is our understanding that the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein is in custody and control of documents that may further the Committee’s investigation and legislative goals,” said Comer.

🎯IMPACT: The investigation aims to uncover potential mismanagement by the government in handling the Epstein case and related matters.

IN FULL

Former Labor Secretary and Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor Alex Acosta will sit for a transcribed interview next month before the House Oversight Committee. Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced the interview on Monday as part of his committee’s probe into the late pedophile financier.

Acosta, who served as President Donald J. Trump‘s first Secretary of Labor from 2017-2019 after working as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has been criticized for signing a deal in 2008 that appeared favorable to Epstein by allowing him to plead guilty to a single state charge, despite a years-long Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) inquiry.

Over the years, Acosta has pushed back against critics who allege he was too lenient, noting the 2008 deal made Epstein register as a sex offender. Despite long-standing rumors that Epstein was an intelligence asset, and this was made known to federal prosecutors during the 2008 investigation, Acosta appeared to suggest this was not the case in 2019, stating: “I would hesitate to take this reporting as fact.”

Comer, who is leading a Congressional probe into the government’s handling of the Epstein investigation, said Acosta will voluntarily sit for the interview on September 19. The chairman also said Monday that the panel will “accept formal written declarations from former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzalez, Eric Holder, and Jeff Sessions under penalty of prosecution for false statements stating they possess no information about the Epstein or [Ghislaine] Maxwell cases.”

In addition, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Epstein estate for documents and communications in its possession related to the federal investigation and any potential mismanagement by the government. “It is our understanding that the Estate of Jeffrey Epstein is in custody and control of documents that may further the Committee’s investigation and legislative goals,” Comer said in a press release. “Further, it is our understanding the Estate is ready and willing to provide these documents to the Committee pursuant to a subpoena.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
William Upton
Lawfare
SCOTUS

Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s $783 Million Cut to DEI Research.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States Supreme Court has moved to overturn a lower court’s ruling that blocked $783 million in cuts made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 16 Democratic state attorneys general, U.S. District Court Judge William Young, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: August, 2025, with litigation ongoing.

💬KEY QUOTE: “All these interventions should have been unnecessary. When this Court issues a decision, it constitutes a precedent that commands respect in lower courts.” — Justice Neil Gorsuch

🎯IMPACT: The ruling will likely encourage further emergency appeals by the Trump White House—most importantly in a handful of lower court cases where judges appear to have ignored a Supreme Court ruling significantly narrowing the use of nationwide injunctions.

IN FULL

The United States Supreme Court has moved to overturn a lower court’s ruling that blocked $783 million in cuts made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In an unusual move, the high court was very vocal in chastising U.S. District Court Judge William Young for having ignored a previous Supreme Court precedent from April. Sixteen Democratic state attorneys general initially brought the case.

“All these interventions should have been unnecessary,” Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority. “When this Court issues a decision, it constitutes a precedent that commands respect in lower courts.” The 5-4 ruling marks a significant win for President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to cut government spending and federal waste, fraud, and abuse.

Despite the win on nearly $1 billion in grant cuts, the Supreme Court’s ruling wasn’t a total victory for the Trump administration. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined with Chief Justice John Roberts and the high court’s three liberal justices in upholding the part of Judge Young’s order that blocked President Trump’s directives to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the NIH.

Outside the ruling’s immediate impact on federal grants, it is notable that the majority opinion focused on the lower court’s ignoring of Supreme Court precedent. This is likely to encourage further emergency appeals by the Trump White House—most importantly in a handful of lower court cases where judges appear to have ignored a Supreme Court ruling significantly narrowing the use of nationwide injunctions.

Image by Joe Ravi.

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By Popular Demand.
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7 hours ago
Crime

CBP Agents Thwart DC Carjacking Amid Trump Crime Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stopped a carjacking in Washington, D.C., on Monday during President Donald J. Trump’s federal crime crackdown in the capital.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: CBP agents, the suspect involved in the carjacking, and federal authorities under the Trump administration’s direction.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Monday, August 25, in Washington, D.C., as part of the “Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful” task force initiative.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Today while making D.C. safe and beautiful, CBP agents received a call of a carjacking in progress. Agents immediately responded to the area and stopped the fleeing suspect,” a CBP post on X (formerly Twitter) stated.

🎯IMPACT: The suspect was arrested and will face charges, as over 1,000 arrests have been made since the crime crackdown began.

IN FULL

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says its agents foiled a carjacking in Washington, D.C., on Monday, August 25, as part of President Donald J. Trump‘s efforts to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. According to CBP, agents were on patrol nearby when they were alerted to a possible carjacking in progress and moved to intervene.

“Today while making D.C. safe and beautiful, CBP agents received a call of a carjacking in progress. Agents immediately responded to the area and stopped the fleeing suspect,” a CBP post on X (formerly Twitter) stated. The agency confirmed the suspect was arrested and will face multiple charges.

The operation is part of the “Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful” task force, launched on August 7 following an Executive Order by President Trump in March. The initiative escalated on August 11 when Trump moved to federalize control of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under emergency powers in the Home Rule Act.

More than 1,000 arrests have been made since the operation began, with federal law enforcement supported by the National Guard working alongside local officers to reduce crime in the city. So far, the initiative has been a marked success, with the city seeing a significant drop in violent crime.

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By Popular Demand.
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