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Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that she and President-elect Trump “had a great meeting to discuss our shared priorities” for his upcoming term, despite their differences previously contentious relationship which peaked in 2020 during the George Floyd riots.
“President Trump and I both want Washington, D.C. to be the best and most beautiful city in the world, and we want the capital to reflect the strength of our nation,” Bowser said.
The Democratic mayor said she and Trump “discussed areas for cooperation between local and federal government, particularly regarding our federal workforce, unused federal buildings, parks and green spaces, and infrastructure.”
“I am optimistic that we will continue to find common ground with the President in his second term, and we look forward to supporting a successful inauguration on January 20,” she added.
NYPD is operating in a “heightened threat environment” leading up to New Year’s Eve celebrations.
D.C. Mayor Bowser appears to be preparing to work with President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his second term. (Getty Images)
The tone of the statement is a far cry from Bowser’s Trump-related messages four years ago, when the mayor declared that a portion of the road leading to the White House where protesters had spray-painted the words “Defund the Police” would be officially recognized would become the District of Columbia as Black Lives Matter Plaza. Bowser and Trump publicly clashed over the use of federal law enforcement to quell the unrest and protests that swept the nation’s capital and other American cities.
As for Bowser’s reference to the “federal workforce”, congressional staff and even others a member of Congresswere victims of car thefts and other violent crimes last year.
Just a few weeks ago, a congressional staffer from Texas was targeted by a group of gunmen who detained about a dozen other people during the morning commute in Washington Washington Post reported.
Trump promised on the campaign trail this year that he would revitalize D.C. and other American cities that he said have deteriorated in recent years because of progressive policies that have fueled violent crime and emboldened offenders.
“We will rebuild our cities, including our capital in Washington DCwhich has become a very dangerous and poorly run place. We make them safe, clean and beautiful again. “We will teach our children to love our country, honor our history and always respect our great American flag,” Trump said at his sold-out rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
D.C. experienced the largest increase in violent crime between 2022 and 2023 compared to any other major city in the country. WUSA reported in Juneciting Justice Department data highlighted by the Major Cities Chiefs Association earlier this year.
People walk down 16th Street after “Defund The Police” was painted on the street near the White House on June 8, 2020. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed this section “Black Lives Matter Plaza” after days of protests against George Floyd. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
VIOLENT CRIME IN D.C. Plunges 35% in 2024, Hitting Lowest Level in 30 Years: U.S. Attorney
However, D.C. police and public safety officials indicated Monday that violent crime in the capital is on a record-breaking downward trend in 2024.
Since 2023, homicides in Washington have decreased by 32%, violent crime by 35% and overall crime by 15%, announced DC Police Chief Pamela Smith and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Lindsey Appiah.
The 35% year-over-year drop in crime represents a new 30-year low for D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Mathew Graves noted earlier this month.
Bowser speaks at a University of the District of Columbia homecoming event at the main campus in Washington, DC on November 15, 2024. (Robb Hill for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Smith advocated for better use of technology on Monday, acknowledging that “the mayor has approved the expansion of CCTV cameras throughout the city.”
The chief also said a comprehensive D.C. crime bill passed earlier this year served as a “morale boost” for officers, who expressed they felt they had to deal with returned or new tools they had could use on the street, “could do police work again”.
The bill also made it easier for judges to order pretrial detention.
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Appiah, meanwhile, admitted that detaining suspects accused of violent crimes before trial – rather than releasing them back onto the streets to reoffend – contributed to the turnaround.
“Those who commit violent crimes, especially with firearms, sometimes need to be brought to justice,” Appiah said WRC TV.
