President Donald J. Trump reportedly warned on Monday that he may declare a “national emergency” and “federalize” Washington, D.C., following Mayor Muriel Bowser’s announcement that the city’s police force would no longer cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The president, who has repeatedly tied public safety to robust federal enforcement, argued that the city’s decision would undo recent progress in combating crime in the capital. Without ICE involvement, he cautioned, “Crime would come roaring back.”
In a forceful post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump laid out his case, portraying himself as the defender of law and order in a city he said had spiraled into “complete and total lawlessness” before federal intervention this summer.
“The Federal Government, under my auspices as President of the United States of America, has stepped into the complete criminal mess that was Washington, D.C., our Nation’s Capital,” he wrote. “Because of this, D.C. has gone from one of the most dangerous and murder ridden cities in the U.S.A., and even around the World, to one of the safest – In just a few weeks.”
According to the president, his August deployment of federal officers and National Guard troops transformed the city almost overnight.
He described a vibrant revival in the capital: “The ‘place’ is absolutely booming, with restaurants, stores, and businesses packed and, for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME. It has been a beautiful thing to watch.”
But he warned that the city’s progress was imperiled by Mayor Bowser’s decision to end cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The mayor, a Democrat, has long resisted federal control over local policing and has clashed with the administration on matters ranging from law enforcement to public safety.
Mr. Trump, however, placed the blame squarely on her leadership, accusing her of having “presided over this violent criminal takeover of our Capital for years.”
He argued that cooperation with ICE was essential to ensuring dangerous illegal immigrants were “removed and relocated,” and that Bowser’s move threatened to undo months of improvement. “If I allowed this to happen, CRIME would come roaring back,” he wrote.
To reassure residents and businesses, the president pledged decisive action. “To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN,” he declared. “I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!”
The clash reflects deeper tensions over immigration policy and federal authority in the nation’s capital. While Democrats have sought to limit ICE’s role in city policing, the president has made clear he views federal enforcement as indispensable to public safety.
Mr. Trump closed his message with his familiar campaign slogan and a note of personal assurance: “Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.”
The looming showdown now pits a president who has staked his political future on restoring order against a mayor determined to assert local autonomy.
For Washington residents, the dispute underscores a central question: who will set the terms of law and order in the nation’s capital?
[READ MORE: Trump Calls For National Healing]
