Washington, D.C.’s mayor shifted to a markedly different stance on Tuesday regarding President Donald Trump’s decision to place the city’s police force under federal control, contrasting with her initial reaction.
“This is a moment for the community to step in. We all need to contribute within our own capacities—to safeguard our city, to protect our autonomy and home rule, and to overcome this leadership. It’s crucial to elect a Democratic House to provide a counterbalance to this authoritarian push,” Bowser stated during a town hall meeting with community leaders, which was streamed live on X.
She called Trump’s effort “an intrusion on our autonomy.”
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during an online town hall on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Mayor Muriel Bowser/X)
Bowser continued, “The police chief expressed concerns about a particular commander and reviewed all seven districts. It was verified that the issue was isolated to one individual. We are finalizing that investigation, and it’s not expected to involve numerous cases.”
Gleick added, “The mayor says department leadership found data reporting anomalies in just one police district.”
Juvenile crime has been a point of emphasis amid the Trump administration’s federalization move.
On the night of May 17, a mob of about 100 teenagers terrorized the Navy Yard neighborhood a block from Nationals Park.
It was the second such teen takeover in less than a month.
Protesters take part in a demonstration against the Trump Administration’s federal takeover of Washington, DC, outside the AFL-CIO on August 11, 2025. President Trump announced the federal control of the DC Metropolitan Police Department and plans to deploy the National Guard to assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
At approximately 8 p.m., reports of disorderly conduct began flooding into the police, but the situation quickly escalated to violence. According to WUSA9, a group of teenagers attacked two bystanders, punching them, knocking them down, and then trampling on them.
There was at least one other similar incident that night.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bowser’s office and the DOJ.
