Trump claimed Tuesday that crime in Washington, D.C., is “totally out of control,” particularly regarding young offenders. In a post on his social media platform, he shared a picture of a young man who appears to have been assaulted, visibly covered in blood.
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released. They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!” Trump wrote.
President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Aug. 5, 2025 in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
Later, during an event at the White House, the president shared that a member of the Department of Government Efficiency was “badly hurt” Monday night.
“By the way, I have to say that somebody from DOGE was very badly hurt last night. You saw that a young man who was beat up by a bunch of thugs in D.C. And either they’re going to straighten their act out in terms of government and in terms of protection, and we’re going to have to federalize and run it the way it’s supposed to be run,” Trump said when asked about DOGE cuts.
Trump has criticized the current DC criminal justice system for being too lenient on minors and suggested that offenders as young as 14 should be prosecuted as adults.
When asked for clarification regarding the image of the bloodied young man, the White House directed inquiries to the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office, which did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Separately, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwab wouldn’t comment on specific cases or allegations but said in a statement that no one living in D.C. should experience such a “horrific and disturbing” event.
The young man in the photograph Trump posted is Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team who left the Trump administration in June, according to sources familiar.
Coristine, who gained notoriety for his age and going by the online nickname “Big Balls,” was a key player on Musk’s team and worked across multiple federal agencies.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders, Beatrice Peterson, Will Steakin and Kelsey Walsh
