Trump threatens to take ‘federal control’ of DC after Doge staffer attack

Hello, and welcome to the day’s live US politics coverage. I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the latest.

Donald Trump has threatened a federal takeover of Washington DC, after an attempted carjacking of a former “department of government efficiency” (Doge) employee.

On Truth Social, the president shared a picture of Edward Coristine – a 19-year-old former Doge staffer – who appeared bloodied after the assault.

Trump wrote that DC is “totally out of control”, and if the city doesn’t “get it’s act together” he will have “no choice but to take Federal control”.

At the beginning of his second term, Trump said he supports a federal takeover of the nation’s capital. As of now, the DC Home Rule Act of 1973 means that DC residents elect their local politicians who run the daily functioning of the city.

Updated at 14.10 BST

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Trump order imposes additional 25% tariff on India for importing Russian oil

Donald Trump has issued an executive order today imposing an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, saying the country directly or indirectly imported Russian oil, adding to 25% tariffs already announced.

Last week Trump had said the White House would impose a 25% tariff “plus a penalty” of an unspecified amount.

The additional tariffs, which would come into effect after 21 days, mean India will face the highest levy along with Brazil, putting it at a significant disadvantage against regional competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. There is thus mounting pressure on the Indian government to reach a deal.

The move threatens to further complicate US-Indian relations and comes shortly after a Indian government source told Reuters Indian prime minister Narendra Modi would visit China for the first time in over seven years later this month.

US-India ties are facing their most serious crisis in years after talks with India failed to produce a trade agreement.
The White House move, first signalled by Trump on Monday, follows meetings by Trump’s top diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow aimed at pushing Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine.

Trump has threatened higher tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on its allies, if Vladimir Putin does not soon move to end the war in Ukraine.

Narendra Modi and Donald Trump at the White House on 13 February. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/ReutersShare

Updated at 15.49 BST

FBI report disproves Trump’s claim of a Biden-era out-of-control crime wave

Richard Luscombe

When Donald Trump fought for and won the 2024 presidential election, his victory was built partly on the false assertion that Democrats were responsible for an out-of-control crime wave in the US, with murders and rapes at record highs.

Figures released by the FBI on Tuesday, however, confirm that the nation was as safe as it ever had been during the final full year of the Biden administration. Every category of crime decreased in frequency, and violent crime in particular dropped to levels not seen since the 1960s, per the report.

The bureau’s annual Reported Crimes in the Nation Statistics report reflects a 4.5% year-on-year decrease in all violent crime nationally in 2024, with murder and non-negligent manslaughter falling 14.5% from the 2023 figure.

Reported rapes were down 5.2% from the year before, while aggravated assaults and robberies declined 3% and 8.9% respectively.

The figures belie Trump’s oft-repeated fear-mongering during the election campaign that “soft-on-crime” Democrats had fueled surging crime rates, particularly in major cities under their control.

In May 2024, for example, Trump told reporters attending his hush-money trial in Manhattan that New York prosecutors were fixated on his prosecution while “people are being mugged and killed outside … [I’ve] never seen anything like it in my life”.

Texas redistricting battle: where things stand

Another story we’re keeping tabs on throughout the day is the ongoing redistricting battle in Texas. It’s one that has grown by the day, so here’s where things stand at the moment.

State Democratic lawmakers have broken quorum for two consecutive days – forestalling the Texas legislature’s special session. Democrats fled the state over the weekend to protest a new GOP-drawn congressional map that could see Republicans pick up five extra House seats in the 2026 midterms if it passes.

While the legislators camp out in blue states like Illinois, New York and Massachusetts for “as long as it takes”, they’ve also set the stage for a showdown between the Texas governor and nationwide Democrats. The Texas Tribune reports that former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke has been a top funder covering the costs of Texas lawmakers’ exodus. A reminder, fleeing Democrats are also facing a $500-a-day fine for leaving the special session without permission. It’s a fee that representatives the Guardian has spoken to are paying out of their own pocket.

Meanwhile, senator John Cornyn of Texas has asked the FBI to aid Texas law enforcement in locating and arresting Democrats who left the state. For his part, the state’s Republican attorney general Ken Paxton said he would pursue a court ruling to declare the seats of “any rogue lawmakers” vacant if they do not return to work at the statehouse by Friday.

Beyond Texas’ borders, a redistricting “arms race” – as state rep. Gina Hinojosa described to the Guardian – has ensued. California governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for a special election to ask voters to override the state’s redistricting commission, and approve new maps that would favor California Democrats if Texas moved forward with its gerrymandering plan.

Updated at 15.19 BST

A White House official confirms to the Guardian that Donald Trump will make an announcement today that Apple plans to spend another $100bn on domestic manufacturing.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, is expected to attend. In February, Apple pledged to invest $500bn in the US over the next four year.

Updated at 14.46 BST

Marsha Blackburn launches Tennessee governor bid

Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee announced today that she plans to run for governor of the state. The Republican lawmaker is now serving her second senate term. Outgoing governor Bill Lee, also a Republican, is term-limited.

In a video announcement posted on social media, Blackburn said she is “ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America’s conservative leader for this generation and the next”.

Blackburn is a staunch Trump ally, and aligned on many of his agenda items: from immigration to school choice.

Currently, her main contender is Tennessee congressman John Rose, who announced his candidacy for governor back in March.

Marsha Blackburn delivers remarks during the first session of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 15 July 2024. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPAShare

Updated at 14.46 BST

The president is at the White House today. His public schedule is quiet for most of the day, but we can expect to see Trump at 4.30pm EDT today for an “announcement” in the Oval Office.

It’s not immediately clear what the announcement will focus on.

Updated at 14.03 BST