US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to declare a national emergency and federalise Washington, DC, after Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the city’s police would no longer cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The dispute centers on whether local authorities must share information on individuals living in or entering the country illegally. Trump blasted what he called “Radical Left Democrats” for pressuring Bowser to halt cooperation with ICE, warning that such a move would cause crime to “come roaring back.”
“To the people and businesses of Washington, DC, DON’T WORRY. I AM WITH YOU, AND WON’T ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalise, if necessary!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The threat comes just weeks after Trump deployed more than 2,000 federal troops and National Guard personnel to patrol the nation’s capital. The August deployment sparked protests, with several thousand demonstrators rallying against what critics described as federal overreach.
Trump, however, has touted the crackdown, claiming that “for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME” was being reported in the city.
Bowser’s office did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks. Earlier this year, the mayor signed an order allowing coordination between city officials and federal law enforcement, even praising the initial decline in crime that followed. Her latest directive marks a reversal.
The situation highlights a growing clash between the White House and local leadership over immigration enforcement and policing. While the National Guard in US states answers to governors, the DC National Guard reports directly to the president — giving Trump sweeping control in the capital.
It remains unclear how long federal forces, including ICE agents, will remain on the city’s streets.
