Key facts
- President Trump suggested the federal government could "take back" Washington D.C. if a socialist candidate wins the mayoral race.
- He expressed concern that such a victory could lead to businesses leaving the city.
- The likely candidate Trump referred to is D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George.
- Lewis George is a self-described democratic socialist and the current front-runner in the mayoral race.
- Trump has previously sought greater federal control over D.C. issues like crime and homelessness.
President Trump suggested on Thursday that the federal government might "take back" control of Washington D.C. if a democratic socialist candidate wins the upcoming mayoral election. Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office event, Trump stated, "I wouldn't like it — and maybe we take back Washington, run it on the federal basis." He added, "We won't put up with it. We're not going to lose our businesses."
While Trump did not name the candidate, he is widely believed to be referring to D.C. Council member Janeese Lewis George, who represents Ward 4 and has centered her campaign on issues of affordability, housing, and public safety. Recent polling indicates Lewis George is leading former City Council member-at-large Kenyan McDuffie by a significant margin ahead of the Democratic primary on June 16.
This is not the first time Trump has expressed a desire for increased federal involvement in the governance of Washington D.C. He has previously cited concerns about crime and homelessness to justify greater administrative control. Last August, he ordered a federal takeover of the city's police department and deployed National Guard troops, citing rising crime rates, despite data suggesting otherwise. This move, which drew strong opposition from local officials and Democrats, marked the first presidential invocation of emergency powers under the D.C. Home Rule Act. While the police department's federal takeover concluded in September, the National Guard's deployment has been extended, with plans for their presence to continue through 2029.
Trump also commented on the current state of the city, telling reporters, "Washington, now, is a safe, beautiful place. People are coming; restaurants are thriving." However, a recent study indicated that the nearly 10-month presence of National Guard troops had no discernible impact on violent crime rates in the district.