“President Trump has called for unprecedented action in Washington, D.C., supporting a move for the federal government to take control of the nation’s capital once again. Expressing his concerns about crime and homelessness in the district, Trump declared his approval for putting Washington, D.C. back under direct federal governance. During a press briefing on Air Force One, the President emphasized the need to ensure safety in the city, stating, ‘I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe.’ He further asserted, ‘I think that we should govern the District of Columbia.’
Despite the existing Home Rule authority, which allows Congress to review and potentially override D.C. laws, some Republican lawmakers are pushing for a more significant intervention, seeking to diminish the city’s limited autonomy and place it back under federal oversight, mirroring its status at the time of its establishment.
While Trump expressed personal esteem for Mayor Muriel Bowser, he criticized the city’s administration, stating, ‘They’re not doing the job.’ Highlighting issues such as high crime rates and visible homelessness, the President lamented the presence of ‘too many tents on the lawns — these magnificent lawns.’ He stressed the incompatibility of such scenes with the city’s status as the nation’s capital, particularly when hosting foreign dignitaries, asserting, ‘You just can’t let that happen. You can’t have tents on all your beautiful — your once magnificent plaza and lawns.'”
