US president Donald Trump stepped out for dinner on Tuesday night at a restaurant near the White House, as he continued to promote his decision to deploy the National Guard and place Washington’s police force under federal control. Vice president JD Vance, war secretary Pete Hegseth and secretary of state Marco Rubio were also with Trump.
His short motorcade ride to Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, came after weeks of him boasting that federal action had turned the capital into “a safe zone.”
Speaking to reporters during the rare outing, Trump said, "It's a safe city and I just want to thank the National Guard... The outcome is really spectacular. We have a capital that's very, very safe right now."
Trump told reporters last week that dining out was something he wanted to try, “I love the White House food, but after a while, I could see going to a nice restaurant. It’s safe.”
Since the crackdown began on August 7, some restaurants have reported fewer reservations, and protests have broken out in several neighbourhoods. Increased patrols have at times led to standoffs between residents and authorities, according to news agency Associated Press.
The White House has said nearly 2,200 arrests have been made in Washington since the crackdown started. Similar moves have already been carried out in Los Angeles, and Trump has threatened to send troops to other Democratic-run cities such as Baltimore, New Orleans and Chicago.
On Saturday, Trump posted a parody image of Apocalypse Now showing helicopters over Chicago’s skyline, writing: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
The post followed his executive order to rename the Defence Department as the Department of War, a change that still needs Congress approval. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded by calling Trump a “wannabe dictator,” joining other officials and residents who say a federal crackdown in Chicago is not needed.
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