President Trump has not ruled out using the National Guard in Washington.

US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of using National Guard units in Washington to ensure order and security in the city and said that he was considering taking control of the police in the American capital.

Trump, responding to reporters' questions, said the crime rate in Washington is "ridiculous." He added that he also wants to "beautify the city," which, he continued, is rife with graffiti and the city's roads are in poor condition. "We will do something about it," the US president said on Wednesday, as quoted by international news agencies.

The president indicated that he was considering taking control of the Washington police and did not rule out the use of National Guard units in the city. "It could happen very quickly. (...) We want to have a great, safe capital, and we will have it," he announced.

The day before, Donald Trump demanded that the Democratic-controlled U.S. Capitol authorities change the law to allow 14-year-olds to be tried as adults. He threatened that if Washington officials failed to do so, the federal government would take over the city.

He said teenagers in Washington "are attacking, assaulting, maiming and shooting innocent citizens without reason, knowing they will be released almost immediately."

Trump has repeatedly hinted at the possibility of federalizing the capital , but has yet to follow through on his threat. A full takeover of power in the District of Columbia requires a congressional act that would abolish local government. Washington, D.C., is among the most heavily Democratic cities, and only 6.7% of voters voted for Donald Trump in the last election.

Although, according to statistics provided by the Washington Police Department, violent crime in the capital has decreased by 35 percent over the past year, the number of crimes still ranks Washington among the top American cities.

From Washington, Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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