Trump says feds should 'take over' and govern Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump said he wants the federal government to "take over" and govern the District of Columbia, claiming leaders of the nation's capital aren't doing enough to reduce crime and homelessness.
Trump made the remarks to reporters Wednesday night on Air Force One as he flew back to Washington from Miami. Although Trump has long denigrated Washington, these were the most direct comments of his four-week-old second term describing his desire to strip local control from the District of Columbia.
"I think that we should govern the District of Columbia. It's so important, the D.C. situation," Trump said. "I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless. And I think we should take over Washington, D.C."
Trump commended the Washington Metropolitan Police Department but said "they're not utilized properly." He also said he likes Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat.
"I get along great with the mayor, but they’re not doing the job − too much crime, too much graffiti, too many tents on the lawns. There’s magnificent lawns and there’s tents. It’s a sad thing, homeless people all over the place," Trump said.
The District of Columbia, which leans overwhelmingly Democratic, is a federal enclave under jurisdiction of the U.S. government. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 gave the city local governance including an elected mayor and city council. Two congressional Republicans, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, this month introduced legislation to repeal the Home Rule Act.
It wasn't clear how aggressively Trump intends to move on an endeavor he also discussed on the campaign trail.
In response to Trump's remarks, Bowser said, "Washington, DC is a world-class city" in a post on X. She included an image touting Washington's parks system, museums, tourism and transit system.
Crime in Washington, which has a population of about 680,000, dropped significantly in 2024, with homicides falling from 274 in 2023 to 187. Carjacking dropped about 50% but were still above pre-pandemic levels, according to the Washington Post.
Trump said the city's homeless encampments produce a poor image when world leaders from countries like France, the United Kingdom and China visit the United States.
"You can’t have that in Washington, D.C." Trump said. "You can’t let that happen. You can’t have tents all over your beautiful, your once magnificent houses and lawns, you just can’t do it."
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.