Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser is advocating for the city to become the 51st state after President Donald Trump announced the federal government would take control of the local Metropolitan Police Department.
Bowser, who has been the city’s mayor since 2015, made the remarks during an appearance on Charlamagne Tha God’s radio show “The Breakfast Club” on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
“It’s times like this when America needs to know why your nation’s capital, a place where 700,000 tax-paying Americans live, should be the 51st state,” said Bowser on the radio show.
“[Trump] wants to send the message to cities that if he can get away with this in Los Angeles, if he can get away with this in DC, he can get away with it in New York, or Baltimore or Chicago, or any other place where millions of people live, work and are doing everything the right way.”
On Monday, Aug. 11, Trump announced he’d be invoking Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of the police department. The 1973 law grants Washington, DC residents limited authority to govern themselves.
