Trump Says He Can Federalize D.C. Indefinitely: 'We Can Do It Without Congress'

The president noted Wednesday that he's bypassed Congress before, and said local crime in the capital could constitute a national emergency if he said so.

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday during a press conference that he doesn’t need congressional approval to extend the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., and claimed local crime is so bad that it could constitute a national emergency if he says so.

Trump invoked D.C.’s Home Rule Act to bring the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control Monday, but needs the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to pass a joint resolution in order to extend its 30-day timeframe — unless he takes further action.

He floated as much during a press conference Wednesday at the Kennedy Center.

“Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress,” said Trump. “But we expect to be … before Congress very quickly. And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously.”

“So we’re gonna need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain, initially, to D.C.,” he continued, adding: “We’re going to use it as a very positive example, and we’re going to be asking for extensions on that — long-term extensions.”