Both of the leading mayoral candidates vying for the Democratic Party’s nomination promptly blasted President Donald Trump’s comments yesterday that he “wouldn’t like it” and “maybe we’d take back Washington and run it on a federal basis” if a self-proclaimed democratic socialist prevails in the race.

Trump’s Oval Office remarks — in response to a reporter’s question that alluded to Ward 4 Counclmember Janeese Lewis George as a candidate in line with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani — come as early voting continues in DC’s June 16 primary and special elections. They also feed into an issue raised by candidates and voters throughout the campaign: how to protect DC’s autonomy amid unprecedented federal scrutiny.

“We are not going to get ICE off our streets or protect Home Rule by fearing this President,” Lewis George tweeted yesterday evening. “Threatening DC because you do not like how our residents vote is an attack on democracy itself. The people of DC elect the Mayor of DC. And they want someone who will stand up to Trump.”

Former at-large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who is trailing Lewis George according to recent published polls, likewise criticized Trump’s comment and vowed to aggressively protect the District.

“The stakes of this election couldn’t be higher, but DC decides who will be the next mayor, not Donald Trump,” he tweeted. “As Mayor, I’ll fight tooth and nail to protect Home Rule and defend against MAGA federal overreach, keep our city safe and revive our economy that Trump’s policies have decimated, including the tens of thousands of residents who have been laid off by his unconscionable actions with Elon Musk.”

DC statehood proponents used the remarks as a reason to rally support for their cause.

“The President of the United States just threatened to strip a city of its self-governing authority because he may not like how its residents vote. This is a threat to democracy itself,” Amy Vruno, executive director of DC Vote, said in a statement.

— ‘Trump threatens new D.C. takeover if mayoral candidate Lewis George wins.’ WaPo’s Paul Schwartzman and Jenny Gathright: “While he has authority to seize temporary control of the city’s police department and to deploy the D.C. National Guard, as he did last year, Trump is legally barred from unilaterally revoking the city’s right to self-government, a step that would require an act of Congress.

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