Ex-DOGE Employee Assault Sparks Trump’s Wrath on D.C. Crime Crisis

An unsettling incident occurred over the weekend in Washington, D.C., involving a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. The man was assaulted in an attempted carjacking, an event which subsequently garnered the attention of President Donald Trump on Monday.

Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old ex-DOGE staffer, was attacked by a group of approximately 10 teenagers in downtown Washington, as per a report from the Metropolitan Police Department cited by the New York Post. Coristine, who was in the company of a woman, attempted to protect her by pushing her into the vehicle and confronting the assailants. The suspects then reportedly began to assault Coristine.

Police arrived on the scene as the attack on Coristine was ongoing, leading to the arrest of two individuals. A photograph of a battered Coristine, shirtless and bloodied, was used by President Trump in a post on Truth Social on Monday. In this post, the President issued a stern warning to the leaders of the city to tackle the growing issue of crime.

President Trump’s post read, “The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs. … If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore. Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime.”

The photograph of Coristine post-attack was captured by fellow DOGE staffer Marko Elez, according to Politico. Coristine resigned from his position at DOGE in late June, following the departure of the former chief, Elon Musk. Musk, too, has called on President Trump to “federalize DC”.

Coristine’s youthful image and the moniker “Big Balls” gained him notoriety and meme status as DOGE enacted sweeping changes through the U.S. government. Coristine is currently employed by the Social Security Administration, as reported by Politico.

Questions remain about the city’s response to this incident and the broader issue of crime. The significance of this should not be overlooked, as it raises important questions about public safety and governmental control.