US President Donald Trump has stepped up his criticism of the security situation in Washington, DC, now claiming that the US capital has a homicide rate higher than some Latin American capitals such as Bogotá, Mexico City and Lima.

During a press conference on Monday, Trump announced that he would place the Metropolitan Police Department “under direct federal control” and deploy 800 National Guard troops in an effort to “take back the city.”

“The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, or some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth. It’s much higher,” Trump said.

Trump said the move to “liberate” Washington was part of a broader initiative to “take back control” of cities he said were threatened by violence.

See Full Page