DMV New Liberals Statement on President Trump’s Comments regarding the District of Columbia

Washington, DC – Last night, aboard Air Force One, President Trump launched into a rambling tirade against the independent governance of the District of Columbia, calling for the disenfranchisement of D.C.’s 700,000 residents in the process. 

For over fifty years, D.C. has exercised self-governance with a democratically elected Mayor, City Council, and Board of Education. Since the passage of the Home Rule Act in 1973, the District’s elected leaders have shaped policy, managed local services, and worked to respond to the needs of its vibrant and diverse population. 

D.C. residents pay federal taxes, serve in our military, and are already denied full representation in Congress. The notion that their government should be stripped of its authority is an affront to the fundamental principles of American democracy. 

This week, as we celebrated President’s Day, we reflected on the leadership and democratic principles held by our nation’s founders. George Washington, whose name our city bears, fought to establish a government accountable to the people, not one that imposed tyrannical rule without representation. It is deeply disturbing that President Trump would use this occasion to advocate stripping Washingtonians of their right to govern themselves.

We share the belief that more should be done to reduce homelessness, keep our city safe, and maximize the beauty of our Nation’s Capital. This can only be done through constructive collaboration among the District, the federal government, and our neighbors in Maryland and Virginia – not through authoritarian overreach.

This City is more than just “magnificent lawns,” it is a thriving Capital fit for our great nation and is home to over 700,000 Americans. When foreign dignitaries visit, they experience more than just our iconic monuments and architecture – they see a city with unbeatable hospitality, delicious food, and kind people who represent the beating heart of global democracy. But only if that democracy is preserved. 

We urge every member of Congress to reject this attack on local governance and to stand with the people of D.C.. Instead of oppressing Washingtonians, Congress must pass a bill to grant the Americans who live in our Nation’s Capital the full rights of statehood.