THE WHITE HOUSE: 08/16/25 | PEACE & SAFETY

PURSUING PEACE.

President Trump wasn’t subscribing to the out of control crime in the District of Columbia, so he invoked the Home Rule Act to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploy the National Guard to make our nation’s capital safe again which received wall-to-wall coverage.

He also announced the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees, granted the Chinese an extension on tariff suspension while the parties continue to negotiate, commemorated the 90th anniversary of Social Security with a Proclamation, and announced no tariffs on gold.In an effort to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, the President ended the week visiting Anchorage, Alaska to meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Both presidents said that the meeting was productive, and President Trump held and interview with Fox New’s Sean Hannity following the meeting.

In an effort to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, the President ended the week visiting Anchorage, Alaska to meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Both presidents said that the meeting was productive, and President Trump held and interview with Fox New’s Sean Hannity following the meeting.

Vice President Vance was over in the United Kingdom this week where he visited RAF Station Fairford in England. There he spoke to the airmen and took photos with them and their families. 

MAGA MINUTE

President Trump is delivering HUGE wins!Make D.C. Safe Again

Kennedy Center Honors Billions in investments

Small biz sentiment highInflation falls http://JOIN.ICE.GOV

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WINS

No tariffs on goldRussia hoaxHistoric Summit in Alaska 

RUSSIA | The President brought the war in Ukraine closer to a resolution after hosting the first summit with President Vladimir Putin of Russia since 2021, and speculated that they could be meeting again very soon. 

MAKE DC SAFE | President Trump federalized the D.C. police and mobilized federal law enforcement officer to help bring order to the chaos in the city. Since the start of the operation, more than 100 arrests have been made and the D.C. police will cooperate with ICE. 

VA CLAIMS | In fiscal year 2024, VA processed a total of 2,517,519 ratings claims, and this year the department reached an all-time high of 2,524,115 ratings claims issued Aug. 8 — nearly two months before the end of FY25 equaling a a 37% reduction in pending claims since Inauguration Day. 

US APPEALS | The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2–1 to let the Trump administration block billions in foreign aid, finding that grant recipients lack legal standing to challenge the president’s pause on funding. 

ECONOMY | Inflation beat market expectations once again remaining stable and unimpacted by tariffs which are raking in billions of dollars. Additionally, small business optimism is at a five-month high, and real wages are rising. 

MAJOR EVENTS

President Trump Participates in a Press Conference with the President of the Russian Federation, Aug. 15, 2025

IN THE NEWS

• WATCH | CEA Chair Stephen Miran – CNBC – Watch CNBC’s full interview with Council of Economic Advisor chair Stephen Miran
• READ | Department of Homeland Security – Fox News – Over 100K Americans rush to join Trump’s massive ICE hiring spree nationwide
• WATCH | Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy – Fox Business – Tariffs haven’t hit consumer pockets — companies are eating the costs
• READ | U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C. Jeanine Pirro – Washington Post – Jeanine Pirro: The fight to make D.C. safe and beautiful
• WATCH | Attorney General Pam Bondi – Fox News– Bondi issues STERN warning
• READ | Environmental Protection Agency – Small Business Trends – New Guidance Set to Save Family Farmers $727 Million Annually

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

• SOCIAL SECURITY | 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act | 08/14/2025
• COMPETITION | Revocation of Executive Order on Competition | 08/13/2025
• SPACE | Competition in the Commercial Space Industry | 08/13/2025
• PHARMACEUTICALS | Filling the Strategic Pharmaceutical Reserve | 08/13/2025
• TARIFFS | Modifying Reciprocal Tariff with China | 08/11/2025
• LAW | Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia | 08/11/2025
• CAPITAL | Declaring a Crime Emergency in Washington D.C. | 08/11/2025

FROM THE BRIEFING ROOM

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Members of the Media,Aug. 12, 2025

MEDIA BIAS OFFENDER OF THE WEEK

OFFENDER: MANY OUTLETS

CLAIM:

Violent Crime in D.C. Hits 30 Year Low

TRUTH:

DC Violence has grown far more deadly, despite Dems claming 30-year low

Many outlets ran with the story that crime in D.C. is at an all-time low, but here are the facts:

• In 2024, Washington, D.C. saw a homicide rate of 27.3 per 100,000 residents.
• That was the fourth-highest homicide rate in the country.
• If Washington, D.C. was a state, it would have the highest homicide rate.
• In 2012, the homicide rate was just 13.9 per 100,000 residents.
• Washington, D.C.’s murder rate is roughly three times higher than that of Islamabad and Pakistan.

These statistics are not only troubling on their own, but they also likely significantly understate the level of crime in Washington, D.C.

Metro Police Department leadership are allegedly cooking the books to make crime statistics appear more favorable.

1.9%Since President Trump took office, inflation is tracking at a mere 1.9% — low and stable.