Trump isn’t playing around anymore. Either get in line or get out of the way.
Now Donald Trump smacked D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser with a bone chilling threat.
President Trump on Wednesday made it clear that Washington, D.C.’s leadership has failed—and that the federal government should step in to take control.
“I think that we should govern the District of Columbia,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless.”
While Trump acknowledged that he has a good relationship with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), he didn’t hold back in calling out the city’s rampant crime, homelessness crisis, and deteriorating conditions.
“The federal government should take over the governance of D.C. and run it really, really properly,” he stated.
“And I like the mayor; I get along great with the mayor. 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. We’ve gotta take care of the homeless.”
Trump emphasized that the capital should reflect the strength and prestige of the United States, not serve as an embarrassing backdrop when world leaders visit.
“But we can’t have that in Washington, D.C. When they come in to see me—like Macron is coming, the prime minister of the U.K. is coming, all these people coming over to see me,” he continued, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer before mentioning Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We’ll have ultimately President Xi, we’ll have everybody. … You can’t let that happen.”
Washington, D.C., is currently governed by an elected mayor and city council, but Congress maintains oversight and must review all legislation passed by the D.C. Council before it becomes law. Additionally, the president appoints the District’s judges.
Trump’s comments come as D.C. continues to struggle with rising crime and public disorder, issues that have made national headlines.
His call for a federal takeover signals frustration with the city’s Democrat-led leadership, which has clashed with him in the past—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the violent racial justice riots of 2020.
For years, Trump has criticized the state of the nation’s capital, arguing that it sends the wrong message to Americans and the world.
With crime out of control, businesses fleeing, and streets covered in graffiti and tent encampments, his latest remarks make it clear: He believes it’s time for real leadership to step in and clean up Washington, D.C.—before it gets even worse.
This comes on the heels of reports that President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order aimed at cracking down on crime and cleaning up Washington, D.C.—a city he has long criticized for its deteriorating condition.
According to three individuals briefed on the matter, the order would ramp up penalties and enforcement for both violent and petty crimes, clear out homeless encampments, and remove graffiti from the streets of the nation’s capital. The move underscores Trump’s commitment to restoring law and order in a city plagued by rising crime and public disorder.
The directive, which could be issued as early as this week, is expected to focus on public safety and revitalizing Washington’s appearance. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, indicated that discussions between the White House and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) administration have been ongoing, though Bowser has frequently found herself at odds with Trump’s tough-on-crime stance.
For years, Trump has called out the failures of Democrat-led cities, and D.C. has been no exception. As crime surges and the city’s streets remain littered with graffiti and tent encampments, his latest move signals a direct challenge to local leadership—and a firm stand on cleaning up the capital.
