More than half a dozen local police departments in the Washington, D.C., area have refused to help secure the city for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, according to a bombshell report from The Daily Caller.
🚨SCOOP🚨 More than half a dozen local D.C.-area police departments will not be assisting Metro Police Department with security for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, the Daily Caller has learned. pic.twitter.com/ACunhAhLdo
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 17, 2025
The report states that several local police departments have declared that they would not assist the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with security, noting that “the decision by these departments could leave MPD with hundreds fewer officers than they would typically be able to rely on for an event of this magnitude.”
While MPD has claimed that thousands of police officers would be present to provide security for the event, The Daily Caller reached out to several local police stations in the Washington, D.C., area and was told by more than half a dozen departments that they would not be helping.
One police department told the outlet that the decision was because of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the MPD and local stations, with a spokesperson for Maryland’s Montgomery County Police Department telling the outlet: “I was just told that based on the current MOU, we will not be assisting Metro PD.”
The Howard County Police Department and the Queen Anne’s County Police Departments both confirmed that they would not be assisting with security, with the Queen Anne’s department claiming that they could not help because of “technical difficulties.”
The Maryland State Police, the Prince George’s County Police, and the Anne Arundel County Police told The Daily Caller that they would be assisting the Capitol Police to secure the Capitol building, but would not be communicating with the MPD for the inauguration events.
However, police departments in Frederick City, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia, will be sending officers to help secure the events. The Daily Caller noted: “Only two departments of the nine who responded to the Caller stated they would be coordinating with MPD for the inauguration. Frederick City in Maryland plans to send about 20 officers, and Loudoun County in Virginia will send around 30 deputies, according to spokespeople for the departments.”
According to the outlet, sources familiar with the situation have stated that the specific MOU issue that was cited by police departments as the reason to refuse to participate may have been the MOU that addresses the MPD’s use-of-force policy.
“The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is working closely with our local, state, and federal partners as we prepare for the 60th Presidential Inauguration,” the MPD claimed. “As with any other events in the District, it is our priority to ensure the safety and security of District residents and visitors.”
The MPD also linked to its use-of-force policy in its response to The Daily Caller, but refused to answer any questions about the possibility of supplemental guidance for any riots or protests that may take place during Trump’s inauguration.
“We recognize the importance of upholding the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully express their views, and we are committed to facilitating lawful demonstrations while maintaining public order,” MPD said.
This news comes after it was revealed that Trump’s inauguration would be moved inside the Capitol due to freezing temperatures, as it will likely be the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years — though some on social media have speculated that the local police departments’ refusal to help secure the event may have also played a part in this decision.
“It is my obligation to protect the People of our Country but, before we even begin, we have to think of the Inauguration itself,” Trump explained in a social media post. “The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows.”
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” he added. “It is dangerous conditions for the tens of thousands of Law Enforcement, First Responders, Police K9s and even horses, and hundreds of thousands of supporters that will be outside for many hours on the 20th (In any event, if you decide to come, dress warmly!).”
