U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that the federal government should take control of Washington D.C., citing concerns over crime, graffiti, and homelessness in the nation’s capital.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Wednesday, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with how the city is being governed. “I think that we should govern the District of Columbia… I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless,” he said.
Trump acknowledged his cordial relationship with Washington’s Democratic Mayor, Muriel Bowser, but criticized her administration’s handling of public safety and city maintenance. “I like the mayor, I get along great with her,” he stated. “But they’re not doing the job — too much crime, too much graffiti, too many tents on the lawns.”
The president particularly emphasized the issue of homelessness, calling for action. “We’ve got to take care of the homeless, but we can’t have that in Washington D.C.,” he said, expressing concerns over the city’s image when hosting foreign leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and China’s Xi Jinping.
“You can’t let that be, you just can’t let that happen. You can’t have tents over your once magnificent plazas and lawns,” Trump added.
Washington D.C., home to approximately 700,000 residents, is a federal district rather than a state. In early February, two Republican lawmakers introduced a bill to repeal the city’s Home Rule Act, which would strip the mayor and city council of their authority.
Senator Mike Lee, one of the bill’s sponsors, labeled the city government as corrupt and incompetent. “The corruption, crime, and incompetence of the D.C. government has been an embarrassment to our nation’s capital for decades,” he said. Lee further argued that Congress should restore “honor and integrity” to the city.
Mayor Bowser has not directly addressed Trump’s remarks but posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Washington “is a world-class city.” She also noted that it remains the only place in the United States where visitors can see pandas for free.
As discussions about federal oversight of Washington D.C. continue, the debate over the city’s governance and autonomy is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
