DC Mayor responds to Trump’s plan to control city police
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called President Trump’s acquisition of DC police “uncertain” and “unprecedented.”
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump threatens to federate Washington, D.C., calling a national emergency after city Democrat mayor Muriel Bowser, saying he doesn’t expect the Metropolitan Police Department to work with Ice in immigration enforcement after Trump’s 30-day acquisition is over.
In a social media post, the president said that if Bowser doesn’t agree to work for ICE, the outcome is disastrous, saying, “The crime will come back.”
Trump declared a criminal emergency in Washington on August 11, calling parts of the Federal Home Rules Act of 1973, allowing districts to direct 30 days of control of the police station. His emergency acquisition has since expired.
Bowser signed an executive order on September 2, requiring district officials to coordinate with federal law enforcement “to the maximum extent permitted by law,” and listed several federal agencies, including the U.S. Former S-Service and the FBI. Not included in the list are the US immigration and customs enforcement agencies.
Bowser told reporters at a press conference on September 10 that the executive order requires a return to “pre-emergency status quo.”
“Immigration enforcement is not something that the MPD does, and it is not something that the MPD does in the future, with the end of the emergency,” she later added.
Trump blasted Bowser early in the morning of September 15th. “Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has been the main side of this violent criminal acquisition of our capital for many years, has notified the federal government that the metropolitan police department will no longer cooperate with ice in relocating dangerous illegal aliens. Needed!!!”
Trump claims his acquisition has led to a safer DC.
“D.C. has since become one of the most dangerous and murderous vehicles in the United States to one of the safest cities around the world in just a few weeks,” he wrote in the Post.
Bowser agreed that an increase in federal government presence will help reduce the number of murders, carjacking and gun crimes. However, when Trump announced the takeover, violent crime in the city had fallen 26% since 2024.
Maintaining federal police for more than 30 days requires action from Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he won’t work to extend the deadline.
Contributions: Joseph Garrison and Zachary Shelmele, USA Today
