Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser responded on Monday to President Trump’s comments regarding a recent spike in crime in the district, labeling it “unsteady and unprecedented.” However, she expressed she wasn’t taken aback by his remarks.
“I go to work every day with the aim of preventing it from turning into a full-blown disaster,” she explained to reporters later that day, shortly after Trump announced that the federal government would take control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deploy National Guard troops.
Bowser, who has had a complicated relationship with Trump—one marked by moments of camaraderie despite criticism of local leadership over crime—suspected that a National Guard deployment might be on the horizon when Trump hinted at a federal plan during a news briefing on crime in the district.
The President declared a public safety emergency, setting the stage for a temporary federal takeover of local police, which sidesteps D.C. home rule.
“We’re focused on resolving this emergency, which I term a ‘state of emergency,'” Bowser stated.
She suggested that Trump’s perspective on D.C. reflects his own experiences during his first term. “It’s true that there were more difficult times tied to various issues,” she observed. “We did witness crime spikes following the pandemic, yet we’ve also seen significant drops in crime after implementing new laws and removing violent offenders from the streets, along with equipping police with better resources.”
“We’ve effectively decreased violent crime over the past 30 years,” she added.
In contrast, Trump and his supporters have contested the district’s crime statistics, highlighting the recent rise in incidents since Covid.
“Our capital is overwhelmed by violent gangs, ruthless criminals, unruly youth, rampant drug use, and homelessness. We won’t tolerate this any longer,” he declared. “It’s devolved into a lawless situation.”
Beyond challenging the characterization of crime in D.C., Bowser indicated that Trump’s actions amounted to a blatant federal takeover.
Trump announced that he appointed Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole to lead the MPD federally, reporting directly to Attorney General Pam Bondi, while Bowser confirmed she would continue collaborating with the current police administration. She emphasized that, despite the arrangement, she still wishes to converse directly with Bondi.
“Our home rule charter is explicit and it’s under the President’s purview,” she clarified. “Under the emergency provisions, the mayor is responsible for MPD operations and will adhere to legal requirements.”
According to a Presidential Order signed by Trump, “The mayor shall provide necessary MPD services as deemed appropriate by the Attorney General.”
Alongside Bowser, Smith remarked that MPD’s ongoing collaboration with federal partners is longstanding. “This is part of our routine,” she stated.
However, Bowser cautioned against the problems federal intervention could create. “It can lead to disastrous outcomes. If a community stops reporting crimes to the police, that’s a recipe for disaster,” she warned.
