Trump threatens federal takeover of Washington if progressive candidate wins mayor race

President Donald Trump has declared his intention to seize direct control of Washington D.C.'s administration should progressive candidate Janeese Lewis George win the upcoming mayoral primary election. Trump's stance comes as Lewis George, who aligns with principles similar to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, leads in the polls.

When questioned about the possibility of Lewis George's victory, Trump expressed strong opposition. He warned that his administration might reclaim jurisdiction over Washington, managing it at the federal level to safeguard the city's commercial interests. This position echoes the administration's August 2025 decision to place the Metropolitan Police under federal control and deploy the National Guard, citing a need to combat rising crime rates in the District of Columbia.

That prior federal intervention, executed under a provision of the 1973 Home Rule Act, faced backlash from municipal authorities and segments of the public, who filed legal challenges. Local representatives had pointed to a 26% decrease in violent crimes during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. Trump, however, defended his administration's actions, asserting they improved security and revitalized public spaces ahead of the United States' 250th Independence Day celebrations on July 4.

According to a Washington Post poll, Janeese Lewis George, who identifies as a democratic socialist, holds a lead over her main Democratic rival, Kenyan R. McDuffie. Voters surveyed expressed confidence in Lewis George's proposals regarding public school management and the city's cost of living. Meanwhile, current D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's popularity has waned, partly due to her perceived alignment with Trump's security policies. Trump himself received 6.4% of the vote in D.C. during the 2024 presidential election.