President Donald Trump’s motorcade drive-by of a homeless tent encampment in Washington DC has sparked a controversy after he posted a photo of one of the residents, Bill Theodie, on social media and subsequently ordered a crackdown on homelessness in the nation’s capital.
“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump posted on Truth Social, along with four photos, one of which featured Theodie sitting in a camping chair by his tent.
Four days later, Theodie was forced to move after Trump’s administration announced a crackdown on homelessness.
“That’s me,” Theodie said when shown the photo Trump posted. “that is insane that he just leaned out the window and takes a picture of me and then posts it on social media in a negative way, using it as his political tool.”
Theodie’s situation is dire. The 66-year-old from Missouri has been living at the site for years and works in construction, though he’s been out of full-time employment since 2018.
He expressed frustration with the sudden notice to vacate, saying, “they said you need to pack it up or they are going to bulldoze it. They didn’t come for talking, it was go, go, go.”
The homeless encampment was the largest in the city, with 11 people living next to one of the main routes out of Washington DC.
According to city data, there were 97 people living in homeless encampments this year, a significant drop from 294 in 2023. The estimated number of people experiencing homelessness is 5,138 this year, down from 5,613 in 2024.
The White House has announced plans to offer homeless individuals shelter and access to addiction or mental health services. However, those who refuse may face fines or jail time.
Theodie expressed skepticism about the plan, saying, “you can’t just snatch people up and threaten them with arrest or force people to go to a shelter.” He added, “I don’t want to go to a shelter – they’re bad places.”
After the encampment was dismantled, Theodie spent three nights in a motel in Virginia after someone donated money to cover the cost.
“If I wasn’t blessed by that person, I don’t know what I would have done,” he said. Theodie plans to try to find a new spot to set up his tent, saying, “my best option is to try to find a safe place to set my tent up. I don’t know where that’s going to be, but I would like to stay in DC.”
George Morgan, a 65-year-old from Washington DC, had been living at the encampment for two months after he could no longer afford his apartment.
He spent his last money on a $15 dog fee to keep his dog, Blue, with him in a motel. Morgan expressed uncertainty about his future, saying, “I have to play it by ear as I have no money. God has always come through, so I’ll see what God sets up next.”
The city’s deputy mayor, Wayne Turnage, said that authorities have removed encampments before, usually with at least a week’s notice. However, the process has been fast-tracked following Trump’s announcement.