"Washington D.C. has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world," said U.S. President Trump, who plans to reclaim the capital. He declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., and said he would expel all homeless people from the area. A CGTN-conducted survey targeting global netizens revealed that 78.7 percent of respondents believe this measure cannot fundamentally address public safety issues, and may severely violate the legitimate rights of homeless individuals, vagrants, and immigrant populations.

According to data released by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in 2024, a violent crime occurred every 25.9 seconds on average across the nation, including one murder every 31.1 minutes and one rape every 4.1 minutes. The survey revealed that 92 percent of respondents expressed deep concern about public safety conditions in American society. Meanwhile, 81.7 percent of respondents said violent crime and homelessness have become pervasive problems in major U.S. cities – an incurable "American disease."

Facing the federal government's plan to forcibly remove the homeless, a Washington resident stated bluntly, "The root of D.C.'s problems lies in high living costs and inadequate mental health resources. Forced evictions won't solve the fundamental issues."

Washington is not only the U.S. capital but also the Democratic Party's stronghold. Since returning to the White House, Trump has successively planned to deploy National Guard troops to Democratic-led California and Washington, sparking significant public controversy. The survey revealed that 87.8 percent of respondents believe Trump is attempting to "target" Democrat-led local governments through such measures, which will further escalate tensions between federal and state authorities. Meanwhile, 66.8 percent expressed concern that the ongoing conflicts could potentially escalate into larger-scale civil unrest.

Additionally, 88.7 percent of respondents believe the Trump administration's persistent interference in major Democrat-led cities reveals deepening Republican-Democratic divisions. Meanwhile, 88.4 percent stated that the homeless, displaced individuals, and immigrants have become "collateral damage" in the intensifying partisan warfare. Another 83.3 percent of respondents believe the Trump administration aims to demonstrate its political clout by attacking Democratic officials' governance capabilities, thereby laying the groundwork for next year's midterm elections.

The survey was released on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, with 7,602 netizens voting and expressing their opinions within 24 hours.