Donald Trump placed the DC Metropolitan police department under federal control on Monday, deploying the national guard while describing a “lawless” city in ways that are sharply at odds with crime statistics reported by the police.

Invoking section 740, of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the president vowed to allow police to “do whatever the hell they want” in the face of provocations. “That’s the only language they [alleged criminals] understand.

“They like to spit in the face of the police,” Trump said at the White House. “You spit, and we hit, and they get hit real hard.”

At his press conference, where reporters were squeezed into both aisles, Trump continued: “I don’t like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful Capital was.”

He continued: “We’re declaring a public safety emergency in the District of Columbia and attorney general Pam Bondi is taking command of the Metropolitan police department as of this moment.

Well, I guess this'll make for good TV.