Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of Washington After Member of DOGE Is Assaulted

[Servus]

A prominent member of the Department of Government Efficiency was beaten in an attempted carjacking in Washington this week, prompting President Trump to renew his threat of a federal takeover of the city.

The victim was Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer known by his online sobriquet, Big Balls, according to the police, who said he was surrounded and attacked by 10 young assailants outside his car.

In a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Trump shared a photograph that appeared to show Mr. Coristine lying in the street bleeding, battered and shirtless, writing that crime in the nation’s capital was “totally out of control,” though the city’s crime rates have been falling.

“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/us/politics/trump-doge-member-assaulted.html

 

[essentialsaltes]

Figures from the [DC] Metropolitan Police Department found that crime was down 35 percent in 2024 compared to 2023—a 30-year low. Preliminary numbers from the police found that violent crime was down 26 percent for 2025 so far.

Fire the police statistician!

 

[GoldenBoy89]

There’s something very Jussie Smollet about this whole story.

One kid (with ties to the administration) lost a fight and that somehow justifies a federal takeover of the whole city?

 

[Clare73]

There’s something very Jussie Smollet about this whole story.

One kid (with ties to the administration) lost a fight and that somehow justifies a federal takeover of the whole city?

There's something very biased and uncaring about this whole response.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

There's something very biased and uncaring about this whole response.

I don’t care about “Big Balls” and I find this story very suspicious coming from an administration that is just itching for any excuse to militarize democratic strongholds like DC.

 

[DaisyDay]

There's something very biased and uncaring about this whole response.

Aw, poor Big Balls. I agree uncaring but how biased?

 

[Clare73]

Aw, poor Big Balls. I agree uncaring but how biased?

No more and no less than it is "Jesse Smollet."

 

[DaisyDay]

No more and no less than it is "Jesse Smollet."

I don't understand your comment. Can you explain what you mean by "biased" towards - or against - Big Balls?

The Jesse Smollet comment implied that the incident was staged with which you may or may not agree (too soon for me to have an opinion, other than hm maybe, maybe not). But what "bias"?

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

"I love the old days, you know what they used to do to guys like that when they were in a place like this? They'd be carried out in a stretcher, folks," Trump had said of one protester. Then: "I'd like to punch him in the face, I'll tell you."

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/03/13/470294270/trump-on-rally-violence-dont-accept-responsibility-might-pay-legal-bills

 

[Desk trauma]

Turns out, not that big.

 

[Clare73]

I don't understand your comment. Can you explain what you mean by "biased" towards - or against - Big Balls?

The Jesse Smollet comment implied that the incident was staged with which you may or may not agree (too soon for me to have an opinion, other than hm maybe, maybe not). But what "bias"?

Jesse Smollet event was staged/fake racial bias; i.e.., no actual bias.

Methinks the pot is calling the kettle black.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Jesse Smollet event was staged/fake racial bias.

That’s my point. This seems staged.

 

[Clare73]

Aw, poor Big Balls. I agree uncaring but how biased?

That’s my point. This seems staged.

Indifference to harm of someone, and calling it staged, is based in bias.

 

[NxNW]

Aw, poor Big Balls. I agree uncaring but how biased?

I'm just wondering how many times we can post that nickname before the thread is pulled?

 

[Servus]

 

[DaisyDay]

Indifference to harm of someone, and calling it staged, is based in bias.

How is it bias? Biased against what?

 

[rambot]

There's something very biased and uncaring about this whole response.

It's but a reflection of those on the right.

Buck up little camper.

This is the new American reality.

That's what happens when a lack of empathy is celebrated in leadership.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I hope the people, that did this. Is arrested. And get gets punished. But federal take over is over board. And I'm sure Trump wouldn't care if I was assaulted in California.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

There’s something very Jussie Smollet about this whole story.

One kid (with ties to the administration) lost a fight and that somehow justifies a federal takeover of the whole city?

It's possible, although, we'd have to get more case details to see if there really are similarities or glaring red flags.

In this case of this kid, the pictures I've seen look like he was legitimately beaten up

MPD Makes Two Arrests in Swann Street Attempted Carjacking | mpdc

The Metropolitan Police Department announces the arrests of two suspects in an attempted unarmed carjacking that occurred in Northwest.

mpdc.dc.gov

It sounds like police did witness some of the incident as well (which is how they were able to apprehend two of the people)

Unlike the Jussie case, where he had a few minor bruises, and for some odd reason, kept the rope around his neck for 40 minutes so the police could see it when they arrived. (which was the first red flag)

Objectively speaking, a car-jacking turning violent in DC is a more (unfortunately) "normal" premise, than the premise of two white guys in Trump hats walking around south Chicago at 2am shouting the N-word at people and yelling "this is MAGA country"
(which, if that did actually ever happen, one would expect that their parents would be getting notified of where to retrieve the bodies from)

 

[Clare73]

It's but a reflection of those on the right.

Buck up little camper.

This is the new American reality.

That's what happens when a lack of empathy is celebrated in leadership.

Case in point. . .

And you might be surprised at the size of my "little camper."