“Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. "President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C."

US president mulls federal takeover of Washington DC after a young staff member of his administration was assaulted over the weekend.

Move comes amid suggestions from Donald Trump that his administration could fully take over running the city