“I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense,” he insisted immediately after.
Trump also reiterated his threat to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, and signed executive orders on cashless bail and the burning of flags.
Why It Matters
Trump’s comments came amid a push by his administration to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, including the use of the National Guard. Critics have warned that the efforts reflect those seen in countries under dictatorships.
What To Know
President Trump was speaking to reporters as he signed new executive orders related to crime Monday morning, before taking questions from reporters.
Despite the backlash to his crackdown in D.C., Trump insisted his approach is popular. He compared it to debates over transgender athletes, another divisive issue he harnessed during last year’s election.
“This is another ‘men in women’s sports’ things,” he said.
“I think the Democrats better get smart,” Trump said. “Politically, I hope they don’t, but actually, in terms of love for the country, I hope they do, because it would be good to work together.”
Vice President JD Vance slammed Democratic governors who’ve criticized the Trump administration for using National Guard troops to fight crime in big cities, saying, “We want people to welcome us, to ask us” for sending in the military.
“They’re angrier about the fact the president of the United States is offering to help them get their crime under control than they are about the fact that murderers are running roughshod over their cities and have been for decades,” Vance said of top Democrats.
He said Trump’s Washington crackdown meant people who would have been killed are now “living, breathing” and going on with their lives in the nation’s capital.
Trump Takes Aim at Cashless Bail: What to Know
As part of the Oval Office event, Trump signed an executive order to end cashless bail, which stated that the criminals posing ongoing risks to society were being allowed back onto the streets.
“When these individuals are released without bail under city or State policies, they are permitted — even encouraged — to further endanger law-abiding, hard-working Americans because they know our laws will not be enforced,” the order read.
“Our great law enforcement officers risk their lives to arrest potentially violent criminals, only to be forced to arrest the same individuals, sometimes for the same crimes, while they await trial on the previous charges. This is a waste of public resources and a threat to public safety.”
The order includes consequences for jurisdictions that maintain cashless bail systems, including the potential revocation of federal funds. Trump directly took aim at Illinois for its policy as an example.
Cashless bail allows a judge to release a suspect without posting bond, which advocates argue helps those who cannot afford steep bonds and are not seen as a threat to the wider community.
The White House and many Republicans argue that the system allows potentially violent criminals to be released into communities where they can commit further crimes.
What People Are Saying
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on X and in a press release: “The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention.
“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he’s causing families. We’ll continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect Illinoisans.”
Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson, on X: “What the President is proposing would be the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st Century. The City of Chicago does not need a military occupation.”
Criminal defense attorney Andrew Fleischman, on X: “Cashless bail systems use text messages and pretrial supervision to make sure people come back to court. They work as well or better than bail systems. Plus, bail bondsmen are the ultimate local rent seekers.”
Republican Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, on X: “‘Cashless bail’ usually means no bail at all. It allows violent criminals to commit crimes then walk free. It’s a disastrous, failed policy pushed by pro-criminal leftists like George Soros, the Arnold Foundation, and Gavin Newsom. President Trump is right to end it and restore law & order in D.C.”
What’s Next
Attorney General Pam Bondi now has 30 days to compile a list of states and local jurisdictions that have cashless bail policies and present that list to the White House.
Update: 8/25/25, 11:50 a.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
