Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser described President Donald Trump's control of the police as"disturbing and unprecedented," but said the city is not "completely surprised."

Trump earlier ordered the National Guard to head to Washington to take control of the capital's police force, in response to crime rates he described as"out of control."

Trump pointed to rising crime rates, despite officials' January statement that violent crime rates in the city had reached their lowest levels in 30 years.

This action came after Trump threatened to seize the federal government in Washington, D.C.

Trump spent days threatening such a takeover after a Defense Department employee was beaten while having his car stolen early in the morning, calling the move"a historic act to save our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, chaos, filth, and worse," at a White House press conference.

Trump said he would call up 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and indicated he might also send the military"if necessary."

Democratic lawmakers from the Washington, D.C., area attacked President Trump for deploying the National Guard to the city and dominating police forces in an attempt to crack down on crime.