Washington Examiner’s Christian Datoc said District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser is in a “unique position” with President Donald Trump after he federalized the Metropolitan Police Department.
“And she is in a unique position,” Datoc said on LiveNOW from Fox Wednesday. “We’ve seen her work with this administration much more closely than the Trump 1.0 White House.”
Recommended Stories
- Trump estimates 1-in-4 chance Alaska meeting is not successful, says Putin is 'going to make a deal'
- Trump touts 'no tax' on Social Security to mark program's 90th anniversary
- Indiana Republicans express little interest in mid-decade redistricting following Vance’s visit
“You can remember the tension between the president and the mayor back during the 2020 George Floyd protests, and I do think when she had her press conference on Monday responding to the president’s announcement, she was not nearly as forceful in talking about how this was an overreach by the White House, as some of her Democratic electorate would have liked her to see.”
Trump announced the National Guard deployment Monday to address the district’s crime, putting Attorney General Pam Bondi in control of the MPD. While some Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), are vocalizing opposition to Trump’s decision, Datoc said Bowser is receiving Trump’s help “the most warmly” out of the Democratic Party.
Datoc said Bowser sees Trump’s aid as “a potential bonus” for the city, since various “crime hotspots” have been understaffed. He added that Bowser recognizes wanting to be “mindful” in how the city polices its communities, while also knowing “no amount of crime is acceptable.”
Datoc said the mayor will work with the federal government to ensure the city is safe for both its residents and tourists visiting the “national treasures.” He’s also noticed an increase in law enforcement presence this week, saying there were “black federal SUVs” and police cars lining his 20-minute drive downtown.
BOWSER AND TRUMP’S EVOLVING RELATIONSHIP, EXPLAINED
Bowser said Monday she believes Trump’s view of the capital’s crime level is “shaped by his COVID-era experience,” adding the city underwent a “spike” in crime following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she said the city’s crime level this year is lower than both 2023 and 2019, though she is “not satisfied” with these statistics.
She also confirmed she reached out to Bondi to schedule a meeting.
Trump rebuked the possibility of making the district a state on Wednesday, saying he wants “to straighten the place out.” He also said the Democratic Party wants “to pick up two senators,” and that this is not in the cards.