WATCH: Bret Baier Has Run-In With DC Police Amid Citywide Crackdown

Fox News anchor Bret Baier found out first-hand just how seriously law enforcement in Washington, D.C., is taking the new crackdown on crime following President Donald Trump’s takeover of the department and deployment of 800 National Guard troops in the area.

“I picked up my ringing phone as I drove past an officer while driving my wife’s car in Georgetown. He pointed to have me pull over – I did. He was very professional. I had to dig for the registration card. Got a ticket and left. I didn’t know there was paparazzi,” Baier said in a post on X. 

This incident highlights the no-nonsense approach of local authorities in their efforts to reduce crime statistics in our nation’s capital from their current astronomical level.

During the early part of August, President Trump made a huge move to help bring order to the chaos by invoking Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act. This led to the first-ever federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. Many conservatives have shared their support for this move due to high instances of violent crime and failure by the local government to address the situation adequately.

For many of the citizens in D.C., the move makes total sense. When crime skyrockets and local government fails to address the issue, the federal government must intervene to restore order. The White House released a report on Aug. 8 that reveals there have been 212 arrests not related to immigration.

Many of these arrests have taken place in historically high-crime areas such as Wards 7 and 8. Results such as this, experts say, reveal that Trump’s decision in the matter is not simply symbolic, but is producing real results. Members of the GOP across six states have followed Trump’s lead and sent 1,100 National Guard troops to help reinforce the effort in a show of solidarity.

Along with these arrests, police have also been busting up homeless encampments, seizing illegally owned firearms, and slapping violent offenders in cuffs, along with gang members.

Conservatives say this isn’t about politics, but reflects a core value of all societies: public order is the foundation of liberty. According to those on the right, this is not a show of force designed to instill fear into the American people, but to boost confidence in local law enforcement to protect their communities.

Liberals have expressed concerns that this takeover is a violation of the Constitution, but the president used an already existing section of the document. If the administration wants to extend the current policy past 30 days, it will require congressional approval.