President Donald Trump said Monday he's activating the National Guard to help reduce crime across Washington. Joined by some members of his Cabinet in a packed briefing room, the Republican president said he was putting the District of Columbia's police under federal control and declaring a public safety emergency.

Trump said he was invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which gives the President of the United States the authority to commandeer DC's Police Department in “conditions of an emergency nature.” Attorney General Pam Bondi is now in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department, he said.