President Donald Trump voiced his support for repealing the District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act, citing crime, homelessness and “graffiti.”
Trump relayed his stance Wednesday to reporters aboard Air Force One. The president was blunt in his assessment of the district, saying the federal government would run it more effectively.
“I think that we should govern the District of Columbia,” Trump said. “It’s so important, the D.C. situation. I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless. And I think we should take over Washington, D.C.”
Trump echoed claims by Republican lawmakers, who recently introduced legislation in Congress to repeal the Home Rule Act, that the district is plagued by violence and grime.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., introduced the legislation, saying it comes in response to the “mayor and City Council’s failure to prevent violent crime, corruption, and voting by noncitizens.”
The duo tied the title of the legislation to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. The Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act can be shortened to the BOWSER Act.
Trump was also critical of the mayor despite claiming to have a good relationship with her.
“I get along great with the mayor, but they’re not doing the job − too much crime, too much graffiti, too many tents on the lawns,” the president said. “There’s magnificent lawns and there’s tents. It’s a sad thing, homeless people all over the place.”
Trump said when foreign leaders visit the district, they will be met with homelessness and tents all over the city.
“We can’t have that in Washington, D.C.,” he added. “When they come in to see me – like Macron is coming, the prime minister of the U.K. is coming, all these people coming over to see me. We’ll have ultimately President Xi, we’ll have everybody. … You can’t let that happen.”
The District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 was enacted by Congress and ratified by D.C. voters. The act gave the district residents limited autonomy over local affairs, allowing them to elect local leaders, including mayors and council members.
According to Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the authority to manage the nation’s capital.
In defense of the proposed legislation, Lee underscored crime and corruption as reasons for revoking the act, saying it is a scorn on the nation’s capital.
“The corruption, crime, and incompetence of the D.C. government has been an embarrassment to our nation’s capital for decades,” said the senator. “It is long past time that Congress restored the honor and integrity of George Washington to the beautiful city which bears his name.”
The lawmakers cited “a long history of official corruption, federal bribery charges against a council member, armed carjackings, public beatings on public transit, assaults and robberies against congressional staff and members of Congress, soft on crime policies, allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections and regulations causing a high cost of living.”
Despite the president’s and lawmakers’ claims, the Metropolitan Police Department reports that crime is decreasing. The violent crime rate dropped 35% between 2023 and 2024, according to the department, while property crimes were down 11% between 2023 and 2024. Overall, the district had a 15% reduction in crime between 2023 and 2024.
