Around 2 a.m., noisy revelers emerging from clubs and bars packed the sidewalks of U Street in Washington, many of them seeking a late-night slice or falafel. In short, that law enforcement surge to take control of the District of Columbia's streets did not appear to unfold on schedule.

"Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," said Mayor Bowser amid Trump's escalation in rhetoric against the city.