On August 11 local time, Trump announced a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C. The surface reason is that he claims to want to restore law, order, and public safety in Washington, D.C. to address the so-called issues of violent crime and homelessness. The direct "trigger" was a recent attack on a young employee of the Department of Efficiency by a group of teenagers in Washington.

The possible underlying political reason is that Washington, D.C. is a stronghold for the Democratic Party, with the mayor and city council long controlled by Democrats. Trump could use the public safety issue to reclaim or restrict the autonomy of the District, garner support for a nationwide "tough on crime" policy, and also pressure Congress in areas such as the federal budget and judicial appointments.