Donald Trump promised to clean up a rat- and graffiti-infested shithole in Washington DC at his campaign rally in Iowa – a day before the Republican primary caucus.
Trump, who is the favorite to win the Republican nomination for the third time in a row, appeared to be referring to an anti-Israel protest in Washington in November.
He looked at the dilapidated state of the capital and suggested a federal takeover could be on the horizon for Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser's city.
“We have a capital that we all love.” “Right now it's a rat-infested, graffiti-infested shithole where people are being killed,” Trump said in a campaign speech on Sunday.
He explicitly stated that if Trump wins in November, “we will take it away from the mayor,” who has seen a 29% increase in murders over the past year.
Former President Donald Trump promised to clean up a rat- and graffiti-infested shithole in Washington DC at a campaign rally in Iowa, one day before the first caucus of the Republican primary
“That doesn’t make me popular there, but I have to say it,” he said of the city where Bowser won with 74 percent of the vote in the last mayoral election in 2022.
“We have to be incredible stewards of our capital.” “We have to remove the graffiti from these magnificent marble columns all over the city that have swastikas printed on them and the names of people who have hearts on them,” Trump added of the anti-Israel protest added.
He added that diplomats and ambassadors must look down on Washington every time they visit.
“We will clean up our capital, we will destroy the slums.” We have slums. “We will have the most beautiful capital in the world.”
Much of Washington's city-level governance is under congressional oversight, despite the Home Rule Act of 1973, which gave DC some independence.
All laws passed by the city's 13-member council can be repealed by Congress, but the president cannot personally govern.
Rising crime and homelessness in the nation's capital are unsettling residents. Locals only drive short distances to avoid walking through the dangerous streets, and others are now too afraid to go outside even during the day.
Homicides and robberies are up 29 percent and 67 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, with murders reaching levels not seen in two decades – while other major cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Baltimore are seeing declines.
The president surveyed the state of disrepair in the capital and appeared to suggest that a federal takeover could be on the horizon for what he called the “terribly run” D.C. under Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser (pictured).
“We have a capital that we all love.” “Right now it's a rat-infested, graffiti-infested shithole where people are being killed,” Trump said of Washington in a campaign speech on Sunday
Rising crime and homelessness in the nation's capital are unsettling residents. Locals only drive short distances to avoid walking through the dangerous streets, and others are now too afraid to go outside even during the day
A body is covered with a tarp after a shooting in Washington DC in April. Murders are on track to reach levels not seen in 20 years
Neighboring Baltimore could end the year with fewer than 300 murders for the first time since unrest over Freddie Gray's death in police custody in 2015.
But in Washington, D.C., a 58-year-old lobbyist told the Washington Post that he stopped walking in his neighborhood after he and his husband were attacked near Dupont Circle and then they were attacked with a bottle outside Whole Foods were thrown at. The couple left the city last month after 30 years and moved to Maryland.
“I always used to believe I could outrun any criminal,” he said. “I can't do it anymore. I'm a sitting duck.”
Even the violent left-wing anti-Israel protests of the last few months didn't affect the city.
Angry pro-Palestine protesters climbed the White House fence and chanted “Fuck Joe Biden” as thousands descended on Washington DC in November to demonstrate against the US government’s support for Israel.
More than 100,000 people flocked to the country's capital as pro-Palestinian protests erupted around the world, leading to several disturbing anti-Semitic incidents.
According to the images, graffiti reading “Death to Israel” and “Glory to our martyrs” was sprayed on buildings near the Israeli embassy shared by the embassy on X.
During the protests, the controversial chant of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was heard while crowds waved a Hezbollah flag, showing their support for the terrorist organization.
The mass gathering is the latest demonstration against the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than 9,250 people, according to the state's health ministry.
Blood-red handprints could be seen on the side of the White House fence
Before the march, anti-Semitic graffiti reading “Death to Israel” and “Glory to our martyrs” was sprayed on buildings in Washington, DC
Other pieces of graffiti seen in DC read “f*** Israel” and “Gaza will win”
Up to 100,000 demonstrators gathered to demand a ceasefire and an end to US military aid to Israel
Pro-Palestine supporters flooded the streets of Washington DC to capacity, with other protests organized around the world
Protesters stretched a banner over the White House fence that read “Stop attacks on Gaza,” and the Secret Service tore down the sign, sparking anger from the crowd.
Chants of “Allahu Akbar” erupted loudly as the protest marched through the city, while red handprints were later seen on walls near the presidential residence.
Before reaching the White House, a huge crowd of protesters filled the streets of D.C. on a route that passed numerous landmarks near the Capitol.
Images after the protesters marched through showed a number of historic statues, including the desecration of the statue of American Revolutionary War hero General Marquis de Lafayette with graffiti and Palestinian flags.
“Biden, we will remember in November,” read one of the signs on the sculpture.
Other notable statues that drew the ire of protesters included Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Jackson.