Cities are the beating heart of civilization. From the ancient ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the bustling forums of Rome and stunning cathedrals of Constantinople, from the grand boulevards of Paris to the skyscrapers of New York that defined the American Century, human history is fundamentally the history of cities and the people who build them. They are where ideas collide, economies thrive, cultures flourish, and dreams are forged into reality. Without thriving cities, there is no thriving nation. When talented people leave cities, society suffers and stagnates. Yet today, America's great urban centers—once beacons of opportunity and innovation—are bleeding out under the weight of radical leftist policies that prioritize criminals over citizens, chaos over order, and ideology over common sense.
Look at what's happened to our cities under decades of Democrat dominance: skyrocketing crime rates, rampant homelessness turning sidewalks into open-air drug dens, businesses fleeing in droves, and families abandoning ship for safer suburbs. In places like DC, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York, progressive prosecutors refuse to enforce the law, defund-the-police movements have gutted public safety, and illegal immigration has overwhelmed resources. This isn't progress—it's deliberate destruction.
But here's the good news: President Donald J. Trump, the ultimate builder and dealmaker, has the legal tools to take back these cities, restore law and order, and make them great again. He's starting with Washington, DC. It's time to act boldly, using the full authority of the federal government to protect American citizens where local leaders have failed. Our nation's capital should be a shining example, not a symbol of dysfunction. Cleaning house sets the tone for the rest.
And there are many laws on the books for the other cities, too.
First and foremost, Trump can invoke the Insurrection Act, a time-tested law that allows the president to deploy U.S. military forces or federalized National Guard troops to suppress domestic violence, enforce rules, and protect constitutional rights—even without state consent in dire cases. This isn't about martial law; it's about stepping in when riots, looting, or widespread unrest—like we saw in the 2020 BLM-Antifa summer of rage—obstruct justice and endanger lives. Presidents from Eisenhower to Bush have used it effectively, as in the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Trump could deploy forces to hotspots like Portland or Seattle, where leftist governors have let anarchy reign, and finally put an end to the cycle of destruction.
Closely tied to this is federalizing the National Guard, where Trump can call state units into federal service under Title 10 status, overriding reluctant governors and placing them under direct federal command for emergency law enforcement support. We've seen this work before, such as during the 1967 Detroit riots. In Title 32 status, with federal funding but state control, Guards could assist if governors cooperate—but why wait for blue-state holdouts? Federalization ensures swift action against gang violence or civil unrest in cities like Baltimore or Detroit, restoring peace without the red tape.
Trump doesn't even need the military for every scenario. He can surge federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and DHS into troubled cities to target federal crimes such as drug trafficking, gang activity, and immigration violations—no state permission required. Remember Operation Legend in 2020, which flooded agents into Chicago and Kansas City to crack down on violent crime? It worked then, and it can work on a massive scale now. Protecting federal property under statutes like 40 U.S.C. § 1315 gives Trump the green light to expand these operations, hitting the cartels and street thugs where it hurts.
For broader crises, declaring a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act unlocks additional resources, enabling enhanced deployments tied to threats like border insecurity or epidemic-level urban crime. This isn't overreach—it's leadership in the face of a clear and present danger to our nation's vital organs.
Critics will scream "authoritarianism," but these are legal, constitutional powers designed precisely for moments like this—when failed local governance threatens the republic. Trump isn't inventing new rules; he's enforcing the ones we have to save our cities from the abyss. Imagine revived downtowns where families can walk safely at night, businesses boom without fear of smash-and-grabs, and innovation returns to the urban core. That's the America we deserve.
President Trump, the people are with you. Take back the cities. Make them great again. Because if we lose our cities, we lose our civilization. And with you at the helm, we won't let that happen.
