Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller visited National Guard troops at Washington’s Union Station on Wednesday, nine days after President Donald Trump invoked emergency powers to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and deploy roughly 800 Guard members. The officials thanked soldiers over a quick lunch and used the appearance to champion the administration’s crime crackdown in the nation’s capital. Vance told reporters that violent crime in the District has fallen 35 percent and robberies 55 percent since the Aug. 11 order. Republican lawmakers circulated additional figures, including an 83 percent drop in carjackings and an 8 percent decline in overall crime. Miller argued that “99 percent of the city has been terrorized by 1 percent,” promising “thousands more resources” if needed. The photo-op unfolded amid loud protests. Demonstrators chanted “Free D.C.” and accused the administration of militarising the city, prompting Miller to dismiss them as “stupid white hippies” and “communists.” A Washington Post poll released the same day found 79 percent of District residents oppose the federal takeover, a result Vance said he was “highly skeptical” of. Under the Home Rule Act, federal control of the city’s police force cannot exceed 30 days without congressional approval. Vance signalled the White House is prepared to seek an extension, calling Washington a potential model for other U.S. cities. “If the president thinks he has to extend this order to ensure public safety, that’s exactly what he’ll do,” the vice president said.