Pete Hegseth responds to the affirmations that he and Trump want a “martial law”

The American Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, postponed criticisms who say that the administration of President Donald Trump aims to impose martial law, following the announcement of the president of a radical federal intervention in Washington, DC

Speaking of the eponym of Fox News Ingraham’s angle, With the host Laura Ingraham, Hegseth defended the deployment of up to 1,000 troops of the National Guard and the federal repurchase of the country’s police service as legitimate measures to restore order.

Why it matters

The invocation by Trump of emergency powers to federalize the Metropolitan Police Service of DC represents one of the most aggressive federal interventions of the local police in recent history.

This decision establishes a precedent that could extend to other cities, Trump specifically appointing Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Baltimore as potential targets for similar federal deployments.

Martial law is a term that refers to the military who takes control of a civil zone in an emergency.

What to know

Trump invoked article 740 of the 1973 DC Home Rule law, allowing federal control for 30 days, with the approval of the Congress required for extensions. The intervention was triggered following the August assault on Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a former staff member of the 19 -year -old ministry, in an attempted diversion of Logan Circle.

During the Fox News interview, Ingraham pressed Hegseth on the concerns of martial law: “The question of martial law continues to rise by the left that Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth want to impose martial law, as the authorities would do.”

The defense secretary responded by pointing from Los Angeles to Los Angeles, noting the deployment of 4,000 troops and marines from the California National Guard during immigration demonstrations. “They were the troops available to ensure that we defused the situation and that we did not allow the other thugs to say:” Listen, it’s big open. We can do what we want in these sanctuary cities “”, he said.

Hegseth responded directly to the concerns of criticisms concerning the targeting of political opponents: “I was told:” Oh, you will lock up political opponents. You will go after the Democrat, Yada, Yada. It’s the same thing every time.

He said that Trump’s approach is to use “legal and lawful and constitutional means”, including the federalization of police services, the deployment of national guard units and the introduction of federal marshals when local police are inadequate.

But the federal takeover of the national capital supports data against contradictory crime. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crimes at DC fell to a 30 -year hollow, violent offenses falling down 35% in 2024 and decreasing an additional 26% this year.

Trump called on Monday “Liberation Day”, announcing plans for a wider campaign of “embellishment”, including the abolition of homeless camps, launching street repairs and adding amenities like a ballroom in the White House.

What people say

Hegseth also said on The ungrateful angle Monday: “The intentions of this president are to establish the law and the order by using legal, legal and constitutional means, which he has completely, and you know why they do not like it? He has the courage to do so. He has the courage to say, I will unclear the police who do not work. I will bring the national guard. I will bring in federal marshals.”

Trump, during a press conference on Monday at the White House: “It’s Liberation Day at DC, and we’re going to resume our capital.”

The mayor of Baltimore Brandon Scott, in a press release sent to Nowsweek Monday: “This is the president’s last effort to distract problems on which he should be concentrated, including the roller coaster mountains of the American economy thanks to his policies. Regarding public security in Baltimore, he should deactivate right propaganda and look at the facts. This progress, but this work begins and ends here in Baltimore, with local, state and federal partners that have done us so far.”

Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, DC, told MSNBC: “It is true that we had a terrible peak in crime in 2023, but it is not 2023 – it is 2025. We reached it by working with the community, the police, our prosecutors and, in fact, the federal government.”

What happens next?

The 30 -day federal control period will test the administration approach to the management of urban crime. Trump’s threats to extend measures similar to other cities led by Democrats will probably be confronted with legal challenges and political opposition.