Trump Pushes to Prosecute D.C. Kids as Adults, Ignoring Crime Drop to Justify Federal Takeover

Former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday to demand that Washington, D.C. change its laws to allow children as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults. Sharing a graphic photo of a bloodied man identified as Edward Coristine, a former staffer with the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump blamed “local thugs” for rising violence in the capital—even as official statistics show otherwise.

“They are not afraid… because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!” Trump posted. He called for the city to begin locking up youth as young as 14 “for a long time.” The post follows an incident in which Coristine, known as “Big Balls,” was allegedly injured while trying to stop a group of young men from assaulting a woman in her car. Elon Musk, a former government advisor, said Coristine “was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her.”

Despite Trump’s claims, D.C. officials report that crime dropped by 35% in 2024, reaching a 30-year low. Violent crime in 2025 is also reportedly down compared to the same time last year. Trump dismissed the data and painted the city as lawless, stating, “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City.”

Trump’s remarks reignite his long-standing push to bring the capital under federal oversight. “Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see,” he wrote. Although he claimed to have a good relationship with Mayor Muriel Bowser, her office has not commented on the statement.

The proposal raises serious concerns about criminalizing minors and extending punitive sentencing practices. Trump’s stance signals a return to “tough-on-crime” politics with federal power poised to override local governance—despite evidence that crime is declining.

Link: The Hill