A report released last year by the government of Washington, D.C. found that the homeless population in America's capital city had grown by 14% compared with 2023.

In response, President Donald Trump announced this past weekend that he is looking at removing them. 

Trump pledges to "move out" homeless and lock up criminals

According to the BBC, Trump's declaration came in the form of a Truth Social post on Sunday that read, "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY."

"We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong," he continued.

 "There will be no 'MR. NICE GUY.' We want our Capital BACK. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" the president went on to add.

Trump's statement came just over two weeks after he signed an executive order which was titled, "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets."

Executive order calls for civil commitment of the mentally ill

"The number of individuals living on the streets in the United States on a single night during the last year of the previous administration — 274,224 — was the highest ever recorded," it noted.

"Nearly two-thirds of homeless individuals report having regularly used hard drugs like methamphetamines, cocaine, or opioids in their lifetimes," the executive order stressed.

"An equally large share of homeless individuals reported suffering from mental health conditions," it went on before pointing out how "failed programs" have cost "tens of billions of dollars" but failed to address the problem's "root causes."

It then called on the Department of Justice to assist states with overcoming legal barriers which prevent the civil commitment of those who "pose risks to themselves or the public" and "cannot care for themselves."

National Guard troops deployed to Washington

In addition to combating homelessness, Fox News reported on Monday that Trump has also moved to take over Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department and deployed some 800 National Guard troops.

"I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C. And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly," the president was quoted as saying during a press conference.

Fox News noted that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke up as well, saying that reporters will see troops "flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week."

The secretary of Defense insisted that the National Guard soldiers "will be strong, they will be tough, and they will stand with their law enforcement partners."