Washington, DC [US]: US President Donald Trump has pledged to transform Washington, DC into a “crime-free capital,” promising a cleaner, safer, and more visually appealing city for visiting world leaders.
Speaking at an event, Trump underscored his commitment to improving the capital’s image, emphasizing that global leaders — including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — should not witness signs of urban decay when they visit.
“We want to have a capital that can be the talk of the world — when Prime Minister Modi of India, when the President of France, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, all of these people came to see me in the last week and a half — and when they come in, I don’t want them to see tents, I don’t want them to see graffiti, don’t want them to see broken barriers and potholes in the roads,” Trump said. “I had it looking beautiful. We’re going to do that for the city.”
Trump also vowed to crack down on crime in Washington, assuring residents and visitors that they would feel safer.
“We are going to have a crime-free capital. When people come here, they’re not going to be mugged, or shot, or raped. They’re going to have a crime-free capital again. It’s going to be cleaner, better, and safer than it ever was. It’s not going to take us too long,” he added.
His remarks followed Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the United States, which was described as “productive and substantive.” During the visit, PM Modi held extensive discussions with Trump and other notable figures such as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
The talks covered a range of topics including strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade, technology, energy security, and regional and global concerns.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the visit’s significance, stating:
“The PM just concluded a very substantive and productive visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This is the Prime Minister’s first visit to the United States after the inauguration of President Trump for a second term. This visit is a signal of the priority that both leaders attach to the India-US relationship.”
During their White House meeting, PM Modi and President Trump shared a warm embrace, with Trump affirming the strength of their partnership:
“We have great unity and great friendship,” Trump said, adding that it was “important” for both nations to remain aligned.
PM Modi expressed confidence in the continued advancement of the India-US strategic partnership, describing it as built on “the same bond, trust, and excitement.”