Trump Threatens to Take Control of Washington if Progressive Candidate Wins Mayoral Race

Trump Threatens Federal Control

Progressive Candidate Advances

Political Tension Grows in the Capital

President Donald Trump warned that he could assume federal control of Washington if progressive Democratic candidate Janeese Lewis George wins the mayoralty of the U.S. capital, a statement that reignites debate over the autonomy of the District of Columbia and the role of the federal government in the city.

Trump Issues Warning Over Washington Elections

WATCH: President Trump floats running Washington, D.C. «on the federal basis» if a democratic socialist candidate wins its Democratic mayoral primary.

«Maybe we’ll take back Washington … We’re not going to lose our businesses.» pic.twitter.com/SPVsRTDFvm

— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) June 11, 2026

According to EFE, Donald Trump was asked Thursday in the Oval Office about the possibility of Janeese Lewis George winning the Washington mayoral race after the Democratic primaries scheduled for next Tuesday.

The president’s response was direct.

“I would not like it,” Trump said, referring to a possible victory by the progressive candidate.

The president went further and suggested that his administration could intervene in the city’s management.

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“Maybe we’ll take back Washington and run it on a federal basis. We’re not going to tolerate it. We’re not going to lose our businesses,” he declared.

Trump’s words come amid the growing prominence of Lewis George, one of the candidates best positioned in the polls ahead of the election.

The Precedent of Federal Control Over Police

Washington federal control in Trump’s hands – PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The president’s threat recalls a measure adopted by his administration in August 2025.

At that time, Trump placed Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and activated the National Guard as part of a campaign against what he described as a “rampant” crime problem in the capital.

To justify the decision, the president invoked a clause of the Home Rule Act, which has regulated Washington’s self-government since 1973.

That provision allows presidents to assume emergency control of the city’s police force under specific circumstances.

The measure generated strong controversy.

District of Columbia residents and local authorities rejected the intervention and filed lawsuits against the Trump administration.

They also noted that violent crime had fallen by 26% during the first half of 2025 compared with the same period the previous year.

Despite the criticism, Trump again defended his actions Thursday.

“Washington is now a safe place,” he said.

The president also insisted on the success of efforts to “beautify” the city.

Among those actions, he mentioned the revitalization of parks, fountains, and monuments ahead of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, scheduled for July 4.

Janeese Lewis George Gains Momentum in the Primaries

Janeese Lewis George has become one of the most visible figures in Washington’s Democratic race.

The candidate defines herself as a democratic socialist and is known among some city residents as the “D.C. Mamdani,” in reference to New York’s democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani.

According to a Washington Post poll, Lewis George leads her main rival, Kenyan R. McDuffie, in voting intention.

Participants in the survey said they believe the candidate would better handle issues such as affordability and public schools.

Lewis George’s rise comes in a city where Trump has limited electoral support.

In the 2024 elections, only 6.4% of Washington residents voted for the current president.

At the same time, Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser has seen her popularity deteriorate due to her rapprochement with Trump on matters related to control of the police department and the deployment of military personnel in the streets.

This week, Lewis George summarized her campaign priorities during an interview on a local radio program.

“My top priorities are making D.C. more affordable, standing up to Trump, and making the government work better for all of us,” she said.

Democratic voters will go to the polls next Tuesday to decide who will represent the party in Washington’s mayoral race, an election that is already attracting national attention after Trump’s warnings.