In an attempt to defend a woman from an attack by violent gang members, the young man was brutally assaulted to the point of suffering a concussion
The president also harshly criticized the local judicial system, stating that juvenile offenders act without fear because they know they will be released quickly. In his message, he called for minors under 14 to be tried as adults and stated that Washington must be "safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and for the world."
Elon Musk, former DOGE director and a key figure in U.S. technology and politics, also replied forcefully. He confirmed the attack on his employee in a message on X, where he recounted that the young man saved the woman with an act of courage that cost him a severe beating, and joined Trump's call to federalize the city.
The attack on "Big Balls" is not an isolated case. On the contrary, it is a symbol of insecurity in a U.S. capital that has witnessed several violent incidents in recent months. In May, a member of Congress was the victim of an armed carjacking, while in July a shooting was reported that left three people injured.
So far, neither the Metropolitan Police nor the Capitol Police have issued statements about the attack on Coristine. The lack of an official response has been criticized by several sectors, which are demanding immediate action.
The brutal attack on Edward Coristine, better known as "Big Balls," a young former member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sparked a strong political and media reaction in the United States.
Musk's former employee was violently assaulted in Washington D.C. while trying to defend a woman from a group of violent young gang members. The severity of the attack has once again placed the issue of security in the nation's capital at the center of debate and has led President Donald Trump to warn of possible federal intervention in the Democratic Party stronghold.
According to multiple sources cited by various media outlets, Coristine intervened when he saw that a woman was being harassed inside her vehicle by at least a dozen young people. In an act of bravery, the young man ran to defend her, but was savagely attacked by the group.
The young man ended up on the ground, with visible injuries and a concussion as a result of the blows he received from the juvenile offenders. Trump himself shared an image showing Coristine lying on the bloodied pavement, which sparked outrage among millions of users.
The violent episode moved Trump, who wrote on his Truth Social network that Coristine was "mercilessly beaten by local thugs" and that, if the violence continues, he will exercise his powers and intervene federally in the U.S. capital.
