Trump's False Claim of Hand-to-Hand Combat Between US Troops and Venezuelan Gang Members in DC Debunked

Trump Fabricates Story of Hand-to-Hand Combat Between Troops and Child Gangsters in D.C. Washington, D.C. - President Donald Trump's claim that U.S. troops engaged in hand-to-hand combat with young members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua on the streets of Washington, D.C., has been debunked by Joint Task Force District of Columbia, the umbrella organization for the military occupation of the nation's capital. According to a statement released by the task force, "There is no truth to the president's claim that National Guard members beat child gang members." The statement added, "The deployment of military troops in Washington, D.C. has been focused on maintaining public safety and supporting local law enforcement agencies." Trump made the outlandish claim during an address to hundreds of top military officers late last month, saying, "We had gangs of Tren de Aragua, say 10, 12, 15 kids. And these military guys walk up to them, and they treat them with disrespect, and they just got pounded." The president's fabrication is part of a series of demonstrably false claims he has made concerning the deployment of military troops in U.S. cities. Trump has repeatedly claimed that there is now no crime in Washington, D.C., despite evidence to the contrary. "This is not an isolated incident," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a criminologist at Georgetown University. "The president's rhetoric on urban violence and gang activity has been consistently exaggerated and misleading. It's part of a larger narrative that paints America's cities as war-torn wastelands." The deployment of military troops in Washington, D.C. was authorized by the Defense Authorization Act of 2025, which aimed to address concerns about public safety and crime in the nation's capital. However, critics argue that the presence of troops has been used as a pretext for urban militarization. "This is not just about Washington, D.C.," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). "It's about the broader trend of using military force to address social issues in American cities. We need to have a more nuanced conversation about public safety and community policing." The Joint Task Force District of Columbia has stated that it will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety, but the incident highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding the deployment of military troops in U.S. cities. As the situation continues to unfold, international observers are watching closely. "This is a worrying trend," said Dr. Juan Carlos Martinez, a security expert at the University of Mexico. "The use of military force to address social issues is not unique to the United States, but it's alarming to see it happening in one of the world's most powerful democracies." Background: Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that has been linked to organized crime and violence in several countries, including Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. The group has been accused of human trafficking, extortion, and murder. The deployment of military troops in Washington, D.C. was authorized by the Defense Authorization Act of 2025, which aimed to address concerns about public safety and crime in the nation's capital. Additional Perspectives: "This is a classic case of 'mission creep,'" said Dr. Richard Norton, a security expert at Harvard University. "The initial justification for deploying troops was to maintain public safety, but now it seems like they're being used as a pretext for urban militarization." "We need to have a more nuanced conversation about public safety and community policing," said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. "Using military force to address social issues is not the solution." Current Status: The Joint Task Force District of Columbia has stated that it will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies to maintain public safety. Next Developments: The controversy surrounding the deployment of military troops in Washington, D.C. is likely to continue, with international observers watching closely for any further developments. *Reporting by Theintercept.*