In his first three weeks, President Trump hasn’t shown particular interest in the District’s local scene — especially after his campaign rhetoric to “take over” the capital city.
By Cuneyt Dil, Axios, February 10, 2025
In his first three weeks, President Trump hasn’t shown particular interest in the District’s local scene — especially after his campaign rhetoric to “take over” the capital city.
- Why it matters: That’s changing.
Driving the news: Trump is planning an executive order to make prosecutors seek tougher penalties on local crimes, clear homeless encampments, and scrub graffiti — echoing campaign rhetoric to “restore” the capital city, the Washington Post reported.
What we’re hearing: The White House has been calling D.C. community members to assemble a group of victims of violent crime for an event anticipated on Friday, one source with knowledge told Axios.
The big picture: Trump is also moving to take over a local institution, the Kennedy Center, while a handful of Republicans want Congress to replace the mayor.
Zoom in: Trump announced himself chairman of the Kennedy Center on Friday, and said he was axing board members “who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
- By Monday, 18 board members were removed from the website’s leadership page and the previous chair, billionaire David Rubenstein, was listed as a chair emeritus.
- The new “interim executive director” will be Trump loyalist Richard Grenell. “NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA,” Trump wrote on social media.
Meanwhile, two conservatives in Congress have taken personal aim at Mayor Muriel Bowser — naming a bill to repeal home rule as the “BOWSER Act.”
- Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah last week introduced the bill (“Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident”).
- Lee tried last year too — but the bill died in committee.
State of play: With Republican majorities, the bill theoretically has a better shot at advancing this year, but here’s something to consider:
- The chair of the important House Oversight Committee, Rep. James Comer, has friendly-ish ties with Bowser. The two have collaborated on the RFK Stadium bill and see eye-to-eye on priorities like tackling crime.
- Comer, whose office declined to comment on the bill, could be an ally for the city. Plus it’s unclear how much broad Republican support exists to take away D.C.’s self-rule.
When asked if she had a specific response to the bill, Bowser told reporters: “I don’t.”
- “The District’s focus is on how we become the 51st state,” Bowser added Monday.
The local ACLU chapter denounced attempts at “micromanaging D.C.” and said the bill “undermines the principles of self-governance and local control that conservatives have long championed.”
