The American Dictator’s Plan Under the Guise of Combating Homelessness in Washington

TEHRAN (Defapress) - In the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency, which began in January 2025, America is grappling with an identity crisis, and the president’s authoritarianism is deepening the country’s divisions. With a history of interfering in state affairs, Trump has not only intensified tensions between the federal government and the states but also laid the groundwork for secessionist movements.

While pursuing policies of suppressing public protests and meddling in the duties of Democratic governors, he harbors ambitions of annexing Canada and Greenland. This situation has pushed America toward a national crisis that could jeopardize its national identity.

During his first and second terms, Trump has shown no hesitation in deploying federal forces to control situations in states. In 2020, he suppressed protests following George Floyd’s murder by sending federal troops to Portland. This move was widely criticized as a blatant violation of state sovereignty.

In 2025, this trend has continued with even greater intensity. In California, Trump ordered the federalization of the state’s National Guard and deployed over 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This action, justified under the Insurrection Act, not only angered California’s governor but also provoked a unified response from Democratic governors, who accused Trump of abusing power. His interventions have eroded public trust in the federal government and set the stage for state-level confrontations.

One of the latest examples of Trump’s interventionist approach is seen in Washington, D.C., where he has clashed directly with Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser under the pretext of making the capital "safer and more beautiful." On social media, Trump announced his plan to combat homelessness and crime in the U.S. capital. In a demeaning tone, he addressed America’s homeless population, writing: "The homeless must be relocated immediately. We will provide places for you, but far from the capital. Criminals don’t need relocation. We’ll throw you in jail, where you belong."

Last week, Trump ordered an increased federal presence in the capital, including 120 officers from the Secret Service, FBI, and U.S. Marshals, and emphasized the need for National Guard patrols in the streets.

In response, Muriel Bowser dismissed this approach as ineffective, stating that allocating funds for prosecutors and filling 15 vacant D.C. Superior Court seats would be more constructive. In an interview, she stressed: "This use of the National Guard is not the best or most efficient. Since 2023, violent crimes such as murder, robbery, and theft in the capital have decreased by 26%."

Trump, who previously described Washington as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, has now proposed returning control of Washington, D.C., to the federal government, a move that would require Congress to revoke the city’s self-governance law.

Currently, 23 of the 50 U.S. states are governed by Democratic governors, including key states like California, New York, and Illinois. These so-called "blue states" serve as the main bastions of resistance against Trump’s policies. In June 2025, Democratic governors united to condemn Trump’s "militarization" of California.

These tensions, particularly in powerful states like California, the world’s fifth-largest economy, could fuel secessionist movements. With a GDP exceeding $3.6 trillion, California has the economic capacity for independence, and secessionist movements like "Calexit" have gained traction among its residents in recent years. If Trump’s confrontational and aggressive policies continue, states may perceive the federal government as a threat rather than a protector, pushing them toward more radical options like independence or greater autonomy.

Currently, at least six states, including Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and New Hampshire, have active secessionist movements. These movements, rooted in both blue and red states, argue that the cultural, economic, and political differences between the states and the federal government are irreconcilable.