The decline follows the deployment of more than 800 National Guard troops in the city.
Restaurants in Washington, D.C., have experienced a sharp decline in reservations and foot traffic after President Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and mobilized National Guard troops in the city.
The decline unfolded in the days after the announcement, coinciding with a heightened law enforcement presence across the district and protests against the federal intervention.Why It Matters
Trump said at a news conference on August 11 that the city had been « overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people. »
Trump’s intervention marks an unprecedented federal involvement in the local governance of the District of Columbia, using emergency powers that city officials and critics describe as a political power play.
The deployment has sparked backlash over constitutional limits and home rule rights. Critics argue that it breaches democratic principles and could set a dangerous national precedent, while supporters frame it as a necessary measure for public order.
