Trump's D.C. takeover sparks dueling social media feeds
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A tourist takes a photo with members of the National Guard on the National Mall. Photo: Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
When it comes to public perception of what's happening in D.C. under President Trump's federal takeover, it's a tale of two social media timelines.
The big picture: Many residents of largely liberal D.C. are posting their resistance to the takeover, documenting arrests, sharing love letters to D.C. and clapping back at depictions of a crime-ridden District.
- Meanwhile, several federal agencies — many staffed with former TV personalities well versed in public positioning — are amplifying highly produced videos depicting the crackdown as conservative figures celebrate online.
State of play: The White House last week posted a 180-degree take on the D.C. love letters trend via its new TikTok account, using similar audio of Trump describing D.C. as overrun with crime, but with images of homeless encampments and police cars.
- And while "sandwich guy" has been embraced as a symbol of the D.C. resistance, the White House released an elaborate video of his arrest, Reuters reports. The White House didn't immediately return Axios' request for comment on the matter.
- Other stylized content released by the government includes a video of decked-out ICE cars driving around D.C. set to the song "Toes" by DaBaby and a White House TikTok of Vice President Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strolling through Union Station.
- And ICE posted a video of officers tearing down an anti-ICE sign in Mt. Pleasant.
Zoom in: Conservative figures are taking to social media to applaud the crackdown and to share their own stories of living in what they describe as a dangerous, crime-afflicted city.
- NTD White House correspondent Iris Tao wrote an op-ed for the Epoch Times detailing her robbery at gunpoint in D.C., which White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reposted on X with the caption "Every White House reporter knows Washington, DC has a serious crime problem, but few will admit it."
What they're saying: "It's an embarrassment to our country when you drive along and you see mass homeless encampments everywhere," Jayme Franklin, co-founder of the conservative lifestyle outlet The Conservateur, tells Axios.
- The Conservateur recently posted a video of U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro talking about the crackdown with the caption "Justice is SERVED 😂😂😂," and Franklin reposted a video on X of a homeless encampment clearing with the words "Inject this into my veins."
Franklin used to live in Georgetown, but moved to the suburbs a few months ago due to concerns about crime. She says pushback like the D.C. love letters likely comes from "wealthy liberals that probably live in safer parts of D.C."
- "I think a lot of people from bad parts of town do want to see a cleanup, and they want to live in safe and clean spaces."
The other side: Prominent progressive voices have spoken out against the takeover, such as "Queer Eye" star Jonathan Van Ness, who was recently in D.C. filming the show's last season.
- Aaron Parnas — a D.C. influencer who some Democrats have floated as a foil to Joe Rogan — is amplifying local protests.
Meanwhile, tourists are also shaping the publicity narrative, with many lining up to take photos with the National Guard members or law enforcement officers stationed throughout the city.