Eight hours ago
Last Sunday, during a motorcade ride toward his golf club, President Donald Trump encountered a homeless tent encampment in Washington D.C. Feeling evidently bothered, he took to social media to express his discontent. “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” he declared on Truth Social, featuring an image of a man named Bill Theodie sitting by his tent. This marked the beginning of a rapid eviction process.
Just four days following Trump's post, Mr. Theodie, 66, faced imminent removal as the president pushed for a crackdown on homelessness in D.C. “That is insane that he just leaned out the window and takes a picture of me…and uses it as his political tool,” remarked Mr. Theodie upon seeing the photo.
During a press appearance, Trump announced his administration's plans to eliminate homeless encampments across the city’s parks, stating, “We have slums here, we're getting rid of them.” This prompted BBC Verify to investigate. By identifying unique features in Trump's posted photos, they managed to pinpoint the encampment's location.
Upon visiting, reporters discovered local officials warning residents of impending eviction. “I've seen the president's motorcade come through here three times,” said Mr. Theodie, who revealed he’d lived at the encampment for years. However, after the announcement, he and his fellow residents were ordered to vacate their tents immediately.
Reportedly the largest camp in the city, the encampment was home to 11 people, many of whom were given little to no time to gather their belongings. On-the-ground accounts detailed the arrival of a bulldozer to clear the site.
DC officials noted that while encampment removals typically allow a week's notice, the timeline has been compressed following Trump's directives. “They didn’t come for talking, it was go, go, go,” lamented Mr. Theodie. The city’s statistics reveal that 97 individuals lived in encampments this year, a significant decrease from 294 in 2023. Yet, approximately 5,138 individuals remain homeless, with around 800 unsheltered.
In response to the growing crisis, the White House pledged to offer support for individuals, such as access to shelters and addiction services, but warned that refusal could lead to fines or incarceration. Many advocates criticize such measures, emphasizing the inadequacies of the shelter system.
After being uprooted, Mr. Theodie secured a motel room temporarily, stating, “If I wasn't blessed by that person, I don't know what I would have done.” He is now seeking a new location to set up camp, hoping to remain in D.C. Meanwhile, another resident, George Morgan, shared his struggles of affording a place to stay while ensuring his dog was with him.
These recent developments underscore the ongoing debate surrounding homelessness and the effectiveness of government interventions in addressing this complex issue.
Last Sunday, during a motorcade ride toward his golf club, President Donald Trump encountered a homeless tent encampment in Washington D.C. Feeling evidently bothered, he took to social media to express his discontent. “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” he declared on Truth Social, featuring an image of a man named Bill Theodie sitting by his tent. This marked the beginning of a rapid eviction process.
Just four days following Trump's post, Mr. Theodie, 66, faced imminent removal as the president pushed for a crackdown on homelessness in D.C. “That is insane that he just leaned out the window and takes a picture of me…and uses it as his political tool,” remarked Mr. Theodie upon seeing the photo.
During a press appearance, Trump announced his administration's plans to eliminate homeless encampments across the city’s parks, stating, “We have slums here, we're getting rid of them.” This prompted BBC Verify to investigate. By identifying unique features in Trump's posted photos, they managed to pinpoint the encampment's location.
Upon visiting, reporters discovered local officials warning residents of impending eviction. “I've seen the president's motorcade come through here three times,” said Mr. Theodie, who revealed he’d lived at the encampment for years. However, after the announcement, he and his fellow residents were ordered to vacate their tents immediately.
Reportedly the largest camp in the city, the encampment was home to 11 people, many of whom were given little to no time to gather their belongings. On-the-ground accounts detailed the arrival of a bulldozer to clear the site.
DC officials noted that while encampment removals typically allow a week's notice, the timeline has been compressed following Trump's directives. “They didn’t come for talking, it was go, go, go,” lamented Mr. Theodie. The city’s statistics reveal that 97 individuals lived in encampments this year, a significant decrease from 294 in 2023. Yet, approximately 5,138 individuals remain homeless, with around 800 unsheltered.
In response to the growing crisis, the White House pledged to offer support for individuals, such as access to shelters and addiction services, but warned that refusal could lead to fines or incarceration. Many advocates criticize such measures, emphasizing the inadequacies of the shelter system.
After being uprooted, Mr. Theodie secured a motel room temporarily, stating, “If I wasn't blessed by that person, I don't know what I would have done.” He is now seeking a new location to set up camp, hoping to remain in D.C. Meanwhile, another resident, George Morgan, shared his struggles of affording a place to stay while ensuring his dog was with him.
These recent developments underscore the ongoing debate surrounding homelessness and the effectiveness of government interventions in addressing this complex issue.
