US President Donald Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., vowing to restore law and order in the nation’s capital. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said he had formally invoked the Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.

“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump declared.

According to the president, 500 federal agents were surged into the city last week, including personnel from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. He accused the local government of mismanagement, citing rising concerns about violent crime and homelessness, and reiterated threats of a federal takeover.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser defended the city’s record, noting in a Sunday MSNBC interview that violent crime had been driven down to a 30-year low over the past two years.

In a separate announcement, Trump revealed that gold imports would be exempt from U.S. tariffs. “Gold will not be Tariffed!” he posted on Truth Social, leading to an immediate drop of over 2% in gold futures for August delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The market reaction followed speculation that U.S. Customs and Border Protection would classify certain gold bars under a tariffable customs code. Switzerland, a major holder of gold reserves and key player in global gold trading, was recently hit with a 39% tariff on imported goods.

The president’s decisions come ahead of his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week, where geopolitical and economic issues are expected to dominate discussions.