President Donald Trump on Tuesday suggested that the federal government could take over operations in New York City and Washington, D.C., if local leaders fail to curb crime and govern effectively.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump criticized New York’s upcoming mayoral race and floated the idea of exerting federal authority in both cities.
“We’re not going to have — if a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same,” Trump said, referencing Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist. “But we have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to.”
Trump declined to endorse any candidate in the New York City race, but name-checked several contenders, including Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Turning to the nation’s capital, Trump suggested his administration was reviewing its options for federal involvement in Washington, D.C.
“We could run D.C. We’re looking at D.C. We don’t want crime in D.C. We want the city to run well,” Trump said. “We would run it so good, it would be run so proper.”
He added that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was in communication with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and characterized their current engagement as a “test” of possible federal oversight.
“We want a capital that’s run flawlessly, and it wouldn’t be hard for us to do it,” Trump said. “We’re thinking about doing it, to be honest with you.”
Despite Trump’s criticism, data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows violent crime in Washington has decreased by 25% compared to the same time last year, while overall crime is down 8%.
Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, Washington, D.C., operates with limited autonomy, allowing residents to elect a mayor and city council. However, Congress retains final authority over the district’s laws and budget. In 2023, the U.S. House blocked two local bills, including a proposed overhaul of the district’s criminal code.
Trump also returned to criticizing New York’s ranked-choice voting system and described his administration’s relationship with Mayor Adams as another “test.”
“New York City will run properly,” Trump said. “We’re going to bring New York back.”
Neither Mayor Bowser nor Mayor Adams has responded publicly to the president’s remarks.
