Trump Says Federal Government Could Assume Control of Washington if Lewis George Wins Primary

President Trump said on June 11 that the federal government could assume control of Washington if Janeese Lewis George wins the Democratic primary for mayor next week. The remarks came during an Oval Office event. Trump was asked how he would respond if Lewis George wins the June 16 primary.

"And maybe we'll take back Washington, run it on the federal basis. We're not going to lose our business," he said. Trump also said Washington is now a safe and beautiful place where people are coming and restaurants are thriving.

Lewis George, the D.C. Council member representing Ward 4, is a self-described democratic socialist. She leads former council member Kenyan McDuffie by double digits in recent polling. A Washington Post-Schar School poll showed Lewis George at 36 percent support among likely voters and McDuffie at 25 percent.

Her platform includes universal access to affordable childcare, government-owned social housing, and taxes on companies whose owners live outside the city.

In August, President Trump ordered a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployed National Guard troops to Washington. The police takeover ended in September, but National Guard deployment continued. A guard official told The Hill earlier this year that the Pentagon plans to keep the soldiers in Washington through 2029.

A recent study found the nearly 10-month National Guard presence has not reduced violent crime rates in the district.