Millions of Americans will flock to Washington, D.C. this year for historic events celebrating the nation’s semiquincentennial, including an IndyCar race around the National Mall and a UFC event at the White House. When these patriotic throngs arrive, they will find a capital city cleaner and safer than at any point in decades, thanks to President Donald Trump – a fitting 250th birthday gift for the country.
Last March, Trump launched the “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful” task force with the express purpose of keeping the city “safe, beautiful, and prosperous.” Although liberals reacted with predictable outrage, the task force has been an undeniable and overwhelming success story, with Trump’s efforts even drawing some begrudging praise from progressive leaders.
Trump’s executive order creating the task force called for an all-hands-on-deck approach to clean up the city by “preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage.”
“As the Federal capital city, Washington, D.C., is the only city that belongs to all Americans and that all Americans can claim as theirs,” the order reads.
A few months later, in August 2025, Trump deployed the National Guard to D.C. after declaring a crime emergency. The uniformed troops have since become a fixture in some of the most dangerous areas of the city, acting as a strong deterrent to crime and assisting local law enforcement in maintaining order.
The task force and the National Guard deployment have been a smashing success, as crime has dropped, homeless encampments have been cleared, potholes have been filled, and monuments have been restored.
“Since March 28, 2024, homicide has dropped 61%, motor vehicle theft decreased by 53%, and robbery fell by 45%,” according to data the White House provided to The Daily Caller.
This is no doubt due to the administration’s crackdown on illegal aliens and other criminals. As of January, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported arrests of “9,137 violent fugitives, including 25 for homicide, 1,509 for narcotics, 774 for weapons offenses, 31 for sex offenses, and 52 known gang members,” Fox 45 reported. “The task force has also seized 924 illegal firearms.”
The Trump administration’s crime reduction efforts have been so successful that even Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that she “greatly appreciated the surge of officers” that helped make the city’s streets safer.
Federal law enforcement officers, including the National Park Service (NPS), have also teamed up with the National Guard to clean up the city and remove homeless tent cities from both federal and city parks, according to The Daily Caller. (Notably, Democrats opposed Trump’s plans to beef up hiring for the NPS, as previously reported by AMAC Newsline.)
As of this past March, authorities had removed 142 homeless encampments. But the individuals who occupied them have not merely been evicted from their illegal encampments, as many liberals might suggest. Instead, “more than 350 people… have been connected with mental health services since the start of the task force.” Trump’s approach is a reminder that true compassion is helping individuals get off the streets and get the help they need, not just tolerating their presence there and allowing them to suffer in perpetuity.
D.C. is also now safer to drive in, as 240 potholes have reportedly been filled.
Additionally, the Trump administration has cleaned up years of neglect and unaddressed defacement of historical monuments and landmarks. “There is no known graffiti spanning the National Mall or Memorial Parks, and efforts to clean up graffiti in Union Station and Columbus Circle are ongoing,” the Caller reported.
The monuments themselves are also being restored to their original glory – with even some Democrats acknowledging the situation has improved under Trump. 18 fountains, including some that have been closed since 2020, are either being installed or turned back on thanks to the Trump administration’s focus on beautifying the city.
“The Meridian Hill Park fountain reopened at the end of April after repairs to cracks in the walls and a revamped landscape,” Fox News reported. “The 13-basin cascading fountain, one of the longest in North America, had sat dry after the National Park Service closed the park’s lower level for renovations in 2020.”
The news outlet likewise reported that the “fountains in Lafayette Park… were also turned on for the first time.”
Trump’s successes have drawn praise from Doug Landry, a Democrat strategist, who said, “[I] can unequivocally say: all the fountains in the nation’s capital should work and I’m glad the Trump people got this done.”
“Credit where credit is due,” Anthony LaMesa, described by Fox News as a “Trump critic,” wrote on X. “The Trump administration is finally fixing fountains around Washington, DC that have been out of order for many years.”
As a result of Trump’s efforts, Americans can feel safe bringing their families to see the nation’s world-class museums, monuments, and memorials. We now have a capital ready to host the most significant celebration in the nation’s history.
And unfortunately for liberals, Trump single-handedly proved that there isn’t some secret to making cities safe and livable – all it takes is a little bit of common sense and the willingness to prioritize public safety over empty progressive talking points.
Matt Lamb is an AMAC Newsline contributor and associate editor for The College Fix. He previously worked for Students for Life of America, Students for Life Action, and Turning Point USA. He previously interned for Open the Books. His writing has also appeared in the Washington Examiner, The Federalist, LifeSiteNews, Human Life Review, Headline USA, and other outlets. The opinions expressed are his own. Follow him @mattlamb22 on X.
