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Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser described her recent meeting with President-elect Donald Trump as productive, despite his past campaign threats to “federalize” the city due to rising crime.
“Today, President Trump and I had a great meeting to discuss our shared priorities for the President’s second term,” Bowser said in a statement.
The three-term Democratic mayor stated that she and Trump agreed on their vision for the nation’s capital to be “the best, most beautiful city in the world” and to “reflect the strength” of the United States.
Bowser added, “We discussed areas for collaboration between local and federal government, especially around our federal workforce, underutilized federal buildings, parks and green spaces, and infrastructure. I am optimistic that we will continue to find common ground with the President during his second term, and we look forward to supporting a successful inauguration on January 20.”
Trump’s Previous Criticisms of DC
The positive tone marked a significant shift from Trump’s earlier comments about Washington, DC. During his White House campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized the city’s governance and vowed to take control of it.
In a December 2023 Truth Social post, he referred to the city as a “dirty, crime-ridden death trap,” asserting that it “must be taken over and properly run by the Federal Government.”
At a February rally in Las Vegas, Trump described DC as a “nightmare of murder and crime” and pledged to “federalize it” if elected. “We’re gonna have the toughest law enforcement in the country. We’re not going to have any more crime and it’s going to look beautiful,” he said.
Crime and Legislative Responses
The city recorded 273 homicides in 2023, the highest number since 1997. The alarming crime rates prompted Congress to block a proposed overhaul of the city’s criminal code, which would have reduced maximum penalties for some violent offenses, including carjackings.
However, in 2024, the murder rate declined by 32%, and total violent crime fell by 35%, providing some optimism about the city’s trajectory.
A Complex Relationship
This week’s meeting between Bowser and Trump marks a stark contrast to their contentious history. During Trump’s first term, he labeled Bowser an “incompetent” mayor over her handling of protests following the death of George Floyd.
The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment about the meeting.
