Washington, D.C., is safer now, thanks to President Trump’s bold move to deploy the National Guard. Congressman Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, is calling out Democrats for slamming the crackdown while crime plagues his neighborhood. His sharp rebuke exposes the left’s selective outrage over public safety.
President Trump invoked a public emergency under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, sending federal resources to curb D.C.’s rising crime. Hunt, whose Navy Yard apartment complex was hit by robbers, backs the move as a necessary step to restore order. Democrats, meanwhile, clutch their pearls over “militarization” while ignoring the chaos.
Last year, a front desk attendant at Hunt’s complex was robbed of her computer, phone, and iPad, reported Fox News. The crime happened just floors below his unit, blocks from the Capitol. Yet some Democrats act like D.C. was a utopia before the Guard arrived.
The robbery wasn’t an isolated incident in the Navy Yard. Congressman Henry Cuellar was held at gunpoint across the street from Hunt’s building. Hunt told Fox News Digital, “I was a three-minute drive away from the Capitol when this happened.”
Hunt’s frustration is palpable as he questions the critics’ logic. “Across the street from our complex was where Henry Cuellar was robbed at gunpoint,” he said. “I don’t understand what these [critics] are talking about. It’s not safe.”
Democrats like Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., aren’t impressed, pushing a resolution to block Trump’s use of service members in D.C. Their complaints ring hollow when you consider the 465 arrests since the operation began, including an MS-13 gang member with a rap sheet for drugs and DWI. Apparently, catching dangerous criminals is less important than scoring political points.
The White House touted the crackdown’s success, noting the MS-13 arrest as a win for public safety. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said, “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and the outstanding work of both federal and local law enforcement, dangerous gang members like the one picked up last night will not be allowed on the streets.” Progressive whining about “overreach” ignores the tangible results.
James Laverty, a Capitol Hill staffer, has noticed a change in D.C.’s atmosphere. “In certain areas, like Navy Yard and U Street, it feels much safer than it did just a week ago,” he told Fox News. The National Guard’s presence has shifted the city’s late-night vibe for the better.
Laverty doubled down, crediting the Guard for the newfound sense of security. “This past weekend, there was a noticeable difference in the vibe late at night,” he said. Dismissing this progress as “militarization” reeks of ideological blind spots.
Hunt didn’t hold back, pointing out the hypocrisy of Democrat governors who’ve used the National Guard for their agendas. He noted that Tim Walz deployed the Guard to enforce COVID restrictions, while Gavin Newsom used it to spruce up Los Angeles for a foreign leader’s visit. The Guard is fine for progressive pet projects, but not for protecting everyday citizens.
“Tim Walz used the National Guard to implement COVID restrictions on people, not to take care of the murder capital of the United States,” Hunt told Fox. His zinger cuts deep, exposing the left’s willingness to prioritize optics over safety. Newsom’s cleanup for a Chinese president’s visit only underscores the point.
Trump, undeterred by the criticism, framed the crackdown as a mission to restore D.C.’s glory. “Before the tents, squalor, filth, and Crime, it was the most beautiful Capital in the World,” he said in an Aug. 11 fact sheet. His vision of a revitalized capital clashes with Democrats’ apparent tolerance for urban decay.
The operation’s success speaks for itself, with 465 arrests signaling a serious commitment to law and order. The MS-13 gang member’s capture alone justifies the Guard’s presence, despite Raskin’s resolution to halt it. Critics seem more interested in grandstanding than addressing the crime wave.
Hunt’s personal experience with crime near the Capitol fuels his defense of Trump’s strategy. He’s not just talking policy—he’s lived the consequences of D.C.’s unchecked crime. Democrats’ objections feel disconnected from the reality on the ground.
President Trump’s crackdown isn’t about politics; it’s about making D.C. safe again. As Laverty noted, the Guard’s presence has already changed the city’s vibe for the better. If Democrats can’t see that, they’re choosing ideology over the safety of their capital.