Trump Threatens to Declare ‘National Emergency’ in DC After Mayor’s ICE Pushback

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump threatened to declare a “national emergency” and “federalize” Washington, D.C., in an escalating standoff with Mayor Muriel Bowser after she announced the city’s police would not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The president said he would “Federalize, if necessary!!!” after claiming that without ICE involvement, “Crime would come roaring back.”

In a post early Monday on Truth Social, he insisted the capital had gone from “complete and total lawlessness” to “virtually NO CRIME” since his August deployment of federal officers and National Guard troops:

The Federal Government, under my auspices as President of the United States of America, has stepped into the complete criminal mess that was Washington, D.C., our Nation’s Capital. Because of this, D.C. has gone from one of the most dangerous and murder ridden cities in the U.S.A., and even around the World, to one of the safest – In just a few weeks. The “place” is absolutely booming, with restaurants, stores, and businesses packed and, for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME. It has been a beautiful thing to watch but, now, under pressure from the Radical Left Democrats, Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has presided over this violent criminal takeover of our Capital for years, has informed the Federal Government that the Metropolitan Police Department will no longer cooperate with ICE in removing and relocating dangerous illegal aliens. If I allowed this to happen, CRIME would come roaring back. To the people and businesses of Washington, D.C., DON’T WORRY, I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

Bowser, a Democrat, has rejected federal demands to share information on undocumented residents, in a move Trump blasted as bowing to “Radical Left Democrats.” Her office has yet to respond publicly.

In August, Trump ordered the Metropolitan Police Department be placed under federal authority and sent ICE officers to patrol alongside federal law enforcement.

More than 2,000 troops remain in the city, with no timeline for withdrawal.