Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is advocating for the city to become the 51st state after President Donald Trump announced the federal government would take control of the local Metropolitan Police Department.
Bowser, who has been the city’s mayor since 2015, made the remarks during an appearance on Charlamagne Tha God’s radio show “The Breakfast Club” on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
“It’s times like this when America needs to know why your nation’s capital, a place where 700,000 tax-paying Americans live, should be the 51st state,” said Bowser on the radio show.
“[Trump] wants to send the message to cities that if he can get away with this in Los Angeles, if he can get away with this in DC, he can get away with it in New York, or Baltimore or Chicago, or any other place where millions of people live, work and are doing everything the right way.”
On Monday, Aug. 11, Trump announced he’d be invoking Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of the police department. The 1973 law grants Washington, DC residents limited authority to govern themselves.
Under the law, the president can take control of local police for two days, but any additional time would require congressional notice or an amendment to the existing law. After 30 days, Trump would need congressional approval to retain control of DC police.
Trump has touted the idea of taking over the police force since 2020, when the Black Lives Matter protests were taking hold of the city, and has since voiced his criticisms of Washington, DC leadership.
His recent attempt to crack down on violent crime came after a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee was assaulted during an attempted carjacking on Aug. 3.
“We’re going to take our capital back,” said Trump during a news briefing at the White House on Aug. 11. “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”
The president also said he’d be deploying National Guard troops into the city as part of the effort.
Bowser refuted the characterization that violent crime in the city has gotten out of control and disagreed with the president’s actions. It’s the first time a president has taken control of local police.
According to data from the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime in DC has fallen by 26% compared to the same period last year.
“The numbers just don’t justify the action,” said Bowser. She said it’s “not a good idea” for local police, who have gained the trust of city residents, to be used in a way that makes communities fearful.
Bowser said it appears the president is targeting urban areas where he is less popular, including DC.
Trump, she said, is “very aware” of the number of DC residents who voted for him in the 2024 election and has, in turn, taken an aggressive stance. About 6% of city residents voted for the president in the 2024 election.
The president has named other liberal-leaning cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, as places where he might send federal troops next.
Charlamagne Tha God asked Bowser if she believes Trump’s actions could be a “trial run for a police state.”
While she didn’t directly respond to the question, she said: “It is a step in fascism when the federal government can bigfoot sovereign states.
“Right now… he’s trying to make it normal where citizens say the federal government should overtake local policing and try to make that a normal thing, so if he tries it in other places, people will be desensitized to it.”
She continued: “We can’t be desensitized to it because it’s not normal.”
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump takeover shows why DC should be 51st state, mayor says
