Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser deployed some of her harshest rhetoric against President Donald Trump during his second term, deriding his takeover of the city’s police as an “authoritarian push.”
Though clashing with Trump during his first term, Bowser has taken a more diplomatic approach the second time around, both in rhetoric and actions. Even after Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on Monday, Bowser gave a largely muted response, saying she would cooperate with the president. On Tuesday, she shifted her tone, voicing hostility to Trump’s move.
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“This is a time where community needs to jump in, and we all need to, to do what we can in our space in our lane to protect our city… and to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule, and get to the other side of this guy, and make sure we elect a Democratic house so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push,” she said during a virtual town hall with community leaders.
Bowser also warned parents to keep close tabs on their children, referring to the recurring issue of juvenile gangs in the city.
“So, don’t let your kids be a part of that, like, know where your kids are and make sure they’re not grouping together because they will be a target,” she added.
In May, Bowser issued a curfew over Memorial Day weekend, noting “some concerning trends with how our young people are socializing.” Her main method of fighting the problem has been the creation of monitored youth hangout spots, mainly at community centers.
Despite her change in rhetoric, Bowser has remained cooperative with the Trump administration’s move to crack down on crime in the city. She met with Attorney General Pam Bondi the same day, saying they agreed to “work closely.”
Her approach this time around is much different than in 2020 when she was confrontational with Trump over his deployment of the National Guard to fight the George Floyd riots, testifying in 2022 that the deployment was a “complete disaster.” Bowser declined to characterize Monday’s deployment the same way when asked on Tuesday.
Trump’s Monday move to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department was supported by the head of the D.C. Police Union, who decried the “out of control” crime in the city
“We stand with the President in recognizing that Washington, D.C., cannot continue on this trajectory. Crime is out of control, and our officers are stretched beyond their limits,” he said in a statement.
Trump floated the idea of taking over Washington’s police during his 2024 presidential campaign, but the first seven months of his second term went by without much focus on the issue. That changed earlier this month, when a Department of Government Efficiency staffer was assailed by several juveniles. An enraged Trump held up the attack as symptomatic of the deteriorating conditions in the capital, vowing to take drastic measures to crack down on crime.
TRUMP’S TAKEOVER OF BLUE DC MET WITH PRAISE AND RAGE BY FED-UP RESIDENTS
White House officials said on Monday that Trump will mobilize roughly 800 National Guard troops to assist the MPD with logistics, transportation, and guarding federal and law enforcement facilities. National Guard troops were spotted patrolling the city in Humvees Tuesday night.
The federalization is expected to last 30 days, and Bondi will be in charge of the federalized MPD. FBI Director Kash Patel reported 10 arrests by the bureau over the first night, with 23 in total.