Key facts
- President Donald Trump criticized Washington D.C. council member Janeese Lewis George, a Democratic socialist who won the mayoral primary.
- Trump labeled Lewis George a 'communist' and vowed to block her policy agenda.
- Lewis George's platform includes ending police cooperation with ICE, opposing youth curfews, and promoting universal childcare.
- Trump expressed concerns that Lewis George's policies would undermine public safety and reverse efforts to reduce crime.
- Lewis George stated she will oppose federal actions she believes harm District residents or weaken local authority.
President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Janeese Lewis George, a Democratic socialist council member who recently won the Democratic primary for mayor of Washington D.C. Trump labeled Lewis George a "communist" on social media and vowed to block her policy agenda, which he claims would undermine public safety and reverse efforts to reduce crime in the nation's capital.
In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that Lewis George's platform includes intentions to "empty the prisons, make D.C. a Sanctuary City, oppose ICE, welcome Criminal Illegal Aliens back into our beloved Capital, resist Anti-Crime Crackdowns, Defund the Police, continue and expand Cashless Bail." He added that he plans to meet with Lewis George but warned that he would not allow the city to be "destroyed by a Communist adherent who has no intention to, MAKE WASHINGTON GREAT AGAIN!"
Lewis George, who is heavily favored to win the general election in the heavily Democratic city, has positioned herself as a defender of D.C.'s home rule and has criticized federal involvement in city affairs. She has previously called Trump's deployment of the National Guard to the city a "direct attack" on residents and accused him of weaponizing the Home Rule Act. Lewis George's campaign prioritized expanding mental health crisis responses, investing in youth intervention programs, and creating mixed-income housing, rather than defunding law enforcement or emptying prisons. She has also stated that while she expects to work with any president, she will not hesitate to oppose federal actions that harm District residents or weaken local authority.