President Donald Trump threatened Thursday that his administration could take over Washington, D.C., if Janeese Lewis George wins the Democratic primary for mayor next week, wading into the city’s mayoral race for the first time.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he “wouldn’t like it” if Lewis George, a self-described democratic socialist and Ward 4 councilmember, wins the June 16 primary. “Maybe we’d take back Washington and run it on the federal basis,” Trump said, adding that the city is “a safe, beautiful place” under his administration’s policies.
Lewis George leads her main opponent, former at-large councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, by double digits, according to a Washington Post poll conducted with the Schar School. In a statement, Lewis George called Trump’s threat “an attack on democracy itself.” She added: “We are not going to get ICE off our streets by fearing this president. We are not going to protect our rights or Home Rule by obeying in advance.”
McDuffie’s campaign also responded, stating that “DC decides who will be the next mayor, not Donald Trump” and defending the city’s home rule protections while criticizing Trump’s policies.
Trump’s Authority Over D.C. Home Rule
Trump does not have unilateral power to revoke D.C.’s home rule. Any move to eliminate the city’s self-government would require an act of Congress. However, Section 740 of the Home Rule Act does give the president authority to federalize D.C.’s police force during emergencies. Trump invoked this provision in August 2025, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to the city.
The Home Rule Act, passed by Congress in 1973, delegates certain legislative powers to D.C.’s government while retaining congressional review of all laws the city council passes. Republicans control both chambers of Congress through 2026, and some have introduced bills to repeal home rule entirely, though such legislation has not advanced.
Trump’s threat echoes comments he made during his campaign and earlier in his presidency. Mayor Muriel Bowser has attempted to manage the Trump administration’s pressure on the city while refusing to compromise on home rule protections. Trump’s latest comments mark his first direct intervention in the mayoral race, which will determine who leads the city for the next four years.
Sources
- NBC4 Washington — Trump’s threat to take over D.C. home rule if Lewis George wins, Lewis George’s response, McDuffie campaign response, and historical context on Trump’s prior actions in D.C.
- The Washington Post — Trump’s threat and legal analysis that he is barred from unilaterally revoking home rule without Congress.
- Bloomberg — Confirmation of Trump’s threat to take over D.C. if Lewis George wins the primary.
- Washington Post poll — Lewis George’s double-digit lead over McDuffie in the Democratic primary.
- FOX 5 DC — Details on Trump’s threat to invoke the Home Rule Act and the June 16 primary date.
