Protesters marched through Washington DC on Saturday to express their anger at what they called Donald Trump’s “fascist” takeover of Washington DC following the federalisation of the city’s police and the deployment of the National Guard.

Several thousand protesters marched through downtown DC to the White House behind a giant banner that read “Trump Must Go Now”, and many held up signs reading “Hands Off DC”.

Earlier, the US president said he was deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency in the nation's capital.

“I want America to understand that what's going on here is unconstitutional, illegal, immoral, wrong,” said protester Mike Berger.

When the protesters reached the National Mall they were ushered back from a contingent of National Guard troops by DC police officers.

A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime."

According to US Justice Department data, violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of the US Congress.

Trump, a Republican who has suggested he could take similar actions in other Democratic-controlled cities, has sought to expand the powers of the presidency in his second term, inserting himself into the affairs of major banks, law firms and elite universities. (Reuters)