Trump threatens to snatch city if mayoral candidate wins: 'We won’t put up with it'
President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed he would take over Washington, D.C. if the mayoral candidate he doesn't want to win gets elected, according to The Washington Post.
Trump made it clear for the first time that he was opposed to democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George winning the Democratic primary next week.
"One of the two leading candidates is running a Zohran Mamdani campaign focusing on socialist policies," a reporter said. "How would you feel if she wins?"
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he "wouldn't like it" if Lewis George wins. He also threatened that his administration “maybe would take back Washington, run it on the federal basis.”
Lewis George, who has been leading in polls and criticized the president throughout the campaign, issued this statement:
“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. Threatening Home Rule because you do not like how residents vote is an attack on democracy itself. The people of DC elect the mayor of DC. And they want someone who will stand up to Donald Trump.”
Trump would need congressional approval to take over Washington, D.C. He has not explained why he is against the candidate.
"While he has authority to seize temporary control of the city’s police department and to deploy the D.C. National Guard, as he did last year, Trump is legally barred from unilaterally revoking the city’s right to self-government, a step that would require an act of Congress," according to The Post.
Q: Here in Washington DC, there's a Democratic primary for mayor. One of the two leading candidates is running a Zohran Mamdani campaign focusing on socialist policies. How would you feel if she wins?
TRUMP: Maybe we take back Washington and run it on a federal basis. We won't… pic.twitter.com/H3E69bXzdW
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2026