Last Sunday, a routine drive led to unexpected backlash for a homeless man in Washington, D.C. When former President Donald Trump spotted a tent encampment on his way to a golf club, he took to social media, posting a photograph of Bill Theodie, a 66-year-old resident of the camp. “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump declared on Truth Social, inciting immediate action from local authorities.
In a video posted on social media, Theodie found himself as an unwitting pawn in the political arena, remarking, “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.” The announcement was part of a wider plan targeting homelessness, as Trump urged the removal of encampments from public parks, which he termed "slums."
Days after the announcement, media outlets investigated Trump's claims, tracing the encampment to a location approximately 10 minutes from the White House. When reporters arrived at the site, they found residents, including Theodie, being informed by local officials that they must vacate immediately.
“I’ve seen the president’s motorcade come through here three times,” said Theodie, who has lived in the area for years and struggled with sporadic employment. The chaos of the clearance was evident as bulldozers moved in to dismantle makeshift homes and belongings, forcing residents to evacuate without sufficient notice.
Wayne Turnage, deputy mayor of the DC Department of Health and Human Services, explained that faster action on encampments was prompted by Trump’s remarks. With homelessness statistics revealing a downward trend, the urgency for the city transitioned from slow eviction processes to immediate action against encampments.
As for Theodie, he recounts his recent nights in a motel thanks to the generosity of a kind stranger. "If I wasn’t blessed by that person, I don’t know what I would have done," Theodie said, surrounded by the comforts of a private room—far from his tent.
Meanwhile, George Morgan, another resident and dog owner, echoed the precariousness of the situation faced by those recently displaced. With limited resources, he found himself in a similar predicament, relying on help to secure lodging for him and his dog.
Both men linger in uncertainty, grappling with the challenge of finding safe spaces to rebuild their lives as authorities tighten control over encampments.
