President Donald J. Trump issued a stern warning, threatening to federalize Washington, D.C. in response to a brutal attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee. The threat comes amid what Trump describes as a lawless environment in the nation’s capital, where violent crime continues to spike, and juvenile offenders face virtually no consequences.
In a Truth Social post that included a graphic photo of the injured victim, Trump blasted D.C. leadership and called for teen criminals and gang members over the age of 14 to be prosecuted as adults.
“The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs. Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of violent crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and federalize this City. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump wrote.
WOW. The @DOGE employee who was brutally beaten in DC for defending a woman has been identified as none other than "BIG BALLS"
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 5, 2025
Big Balls is a HERO! pic.twitter.com/qokF1cj6fn
The individual in the photo, according to multiple sources cited by Fox News Digital, is Edward Coristine, also known by his DOGE nickname “Big Balls.” The young man is said to have intervened to help a woman being assaulted, only to be violently attacked himself by teenaged gangbangers.
Musk: “Time to Federalize D.C.”
Former DOGE chief Elon Musk also spoke out on X (formerly Twitter), supporting the President’s stance and revealing further details:
“A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in D.C. A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. It is time to federalize D.C.”
The assault adds to a growing list of violent incidents in the capital over the past several months, raising serious concerns about public safety in what is supposed to be the most secure city in America.
“Put Criminals on Notice”
When speaking to reporters, Trump reiterated his commitment: “Either they’re going to straighten their act out in terms of government and protection, or we’re going to have to federalize and run it the way it’s supposed to be run.”
He continued, “Washington, D.C. must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the world to see.” The president also made clear that criminals no longer fear law enforcement because of lax prosecution and politically motivated district attorneys.
“Nothing ever happens to them,” Trump said. “They know they’ll be released almost immediately. That ends now.”
D.C.’s Crime Spiral
Trump’s remarks come as the capital faces a surge in violence, especially from teen mobs and gang members, often treated leniently under current D.C. policies.
- In May, a House staffer was carjacked at gunpoint in the Navy Yard area.
- That same month, a mob of teens took over a local park, resulting in multiple arrests and at least one hospitalization.
- In July, three people were shot — including 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, who later died.
- Earlier this year, a WMATA police officer was stabbed in the face near the Navy Yard Metro Station.
In the face of these attacks, D.C. leadership — backed by a city council known for pushing criminal justice reform over enforcement — has been widely criticized for its inability or unwillingness to maintain order.
This troubling trend has been years in the making. In 2022, Kyla Thurston, a 42-year-old woman, was attacked by a group of teenagers on a Metrobus after she asked them to stop using foul language. What followed was a brutal group assault.
“They started throwing objects at me, hitting, kicking, and scratching me. They ripped my jacket and threw me off the bus like a piece of tissue,” Thurston said, recounting the harrowing experience.
Even more shocking, the bus driver reportedly did nothing to intervene, despite Thurston’s repeated pleas for help.
In one of the most tragic examples in recent memory, Mohammad Anwar, a 66-year-old Uber Eats driver and Pakistani immigrant, was killed during a carjacking by two teenage girls.
Armed with a stun gun, the girls assaulted Anwar near Nationals Park, causing the car to crash. Anwar died shortly after. Both teens were received the maximum sentence: juvenile detention until they turn 21.
Critics say this soft treatment sends the wrong message to would-be criminals: commit violent crimes, and walk free by adulthood.
Trump’s Warning to Local Officials
Trump made it clear: if local authorities refuse to act, he will. By invoking federal authority, the president could move to deploy federal law enforcement or the National Guard to restore law and order in the capital — a rare but constitutionally permitted option, given that Washington, D.C., is under federal jurisdiction.
The U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department have yet to respond to requests for comment on Trump’s remarks or on the details of the attack.
READ NEXT: Trump Calls For Alcatraz To Hold Violent Offenders Again
Sponsored
Law & Order and Justice for all.
Citizens need protection.
Criminals need punishment.
THIS IS LONG OVERDUE!!! THE RATS RUNNING DC INTO THE SWAMP OF CORRUPTION HAVE BECOME BIGGER AND BIGGER!!!! TIME TO PUT AN END TO THESE POCHIT!!! PUT A TUFFA$$ PERSON IN CHARGE AND CLEAN UP THIS MESS!!!
Just do it! Civilization is under assault in much of this country. We just had another attack on a US Army base. Along with multiple recent attacks on police, border patrol, ICE, and even firefighters. DO NOT CENSOR
Why do I even bother?….