President Donald Trump once again placed the future of Washington D.C.'s autonomy at the center of the national debate. by suggesting that the federal government could assume greater control over the nation's capital if Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George, a leading contender in the Democratic mayoral primary, wins the race.

The statements were made Thursday from the Oval Office during a press conference in which Trump was questioned about the political rise of Lewis George, a figure identified with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and whose campaign has been compared by some observers to that of the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.

Faced with the possibility of the councilor obtaining the Democratic nomination and later the mayor's office, Trump expressed his rejection and left the door open to broader federal intervention in the city's administration.

"Maybe we will take back Washington and administer it at the federal level. We are not going to tolerate it," declared the president, in a warning that quickly provoked reactions from local leaders and candidates for the government of the capital.

Tension grows between the White House and local authorities

The president's words reignited a dispute that has escalated since 2025, when the Trump administration temporarily assumed control of Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police. under a provision contemplated in the Home Rule Act of 1973. At that time, the White House justified the measure as part of a strategy to combat crime and strengthen security in the city.

The intervention also included the deployment of the National Guard and the presence of federal agents from different agencies, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE). Although the legislation limits certain federal powers to specific emergency periods, the presence of federal forces in the capital has continued to be a source of controversy.

Trump defended that strategy again by ensuring that Washington has become a safer city and by highlighting the urban rehabilitation projects promoted by his government in view of the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States in 2026.

However, local officials have maintained that crime rates were already trending downward before federal intervention and have questioned the need to expand White House control over city affairs.

Democratic candidates respond to threats

Lewis George responded harshly to the presidential statements and called the warning a direct threat against the will of the voters of the District of Columbia. In a statement, the councilor maintained that Washington residents have the right to freely elect their authorities and affirmed that local autonomy should not depend on the political preferences of the federal government. He also reiterated his opposition to the immigration policies promoted by Trump and promised to confront any attempt to limit the city's ability to self-govern.

Another of the Democratic candidates, Kenyan McDuffie, also criticized the president's comments. The politician assured that it is exclusively up to the residents of Washington to decide who will lead the city and promised to defend local autonomy against what he described as the excesses of the MAGA movement.

The most recent polls show Lewis George among the favorites to win the Democratic primary, fueled by a speech focused on affordable housing, public education and opposition to Trump's policies. Its growth coincides with a moment of discontent towards the current mayor, Muriel Bowser, who has faced criticism from progressive sectors for her relationship with the White House.

Although any attempt to modify Washington's self-government scheme would require the participation of Congress, Trump's statements have intensified an underlying discussion about the balance of power between the federal government and the US capital, an issue that could become one of the central axes of the electoral campaign in the coming months.

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