Trump orders homeless to “move out” of Washington DC, Mayor pushes back

US President Donald Trump has declared that homeless people must “move out” of the capital as part of his pledge to tackle crime and restore the city’s image, drawing a swift rebuke from local leaders.

Speaking to reporters, the Republican president likened Washington DC to “Baghdad,” saying he would unveil a plan on Monday to make the city “safer and more beautiful than it ever was before.”

He claimed rising crime and street encampments were undermining the nation’s capital.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, rejected the president’s portrayal, insisting: “We are not experiencing a crime spike.”

She accused the White House of distorting facts and undermining the city’s autonomy.

The clash comes after Trump last month signed an executive order making it easier for police to arrest homeless individuals, a move critics say criminalises poverty rather than addressing its root causes.

Last week, the president directed federal law enforcement officers onto DC’s streets, a rare intervention in the city’s policing.

Advocacy groups warn the measures could lead to mass displacement without providing sustainable housing solutions.

“Pushing people out does not end homelessness — it just moves it somewhere else,” said one housing rights campaigner.

Trump’s forthcoming announcement is expected to outline further measures targeting crime, public disorder, and urban blight in the city.

Meanwhile, Bowser has vowed to defend local policy decisions, saying Washington DC “will not be bullied into abandoning our values.”