President Donald Trump on Wednesday hinted at potentially circumventing Congress to continue his 30-day federal command over Washington, D.C.'s police force. This comes just days after Trump leveraged the Home Rule Act to seize control, a move allowing the executive branch to command the capital’s law enforcement temporarily.

During the announcement of the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, Trump repeatedly suggested that he could maintain his grip on D.C. police by declaring a national emergency, thereby bypassing the need for Congressional approval. “If it's a national emergency we can do it without Congress, but we expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump stated, indicating his preference to work through legislative means but not ruling out unilateral actions.

Trump's comments suggest reliance on Congressional Republicans to extend the takeover but underscored his readiness to act alone if necessary. “I don't want to call a national emergency,” he mentioned, “If I have to, I will.” This stance reflects a broader strategy to implement stringent crime bills not just in Washington but also in other major Democratic-led cities across the country.

Earlier this week, Trump announced his takeover of the D.C. police and the deployment of the National Guard, citing a surge in violent crime—a claim contested by local leaders who noted a 30-year low in crime rates last year. Labeling the day of the takeover as “Liberation Day,” Trump utilized a rarely invoked statute of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, intended for emergency situations.

The response from D.C.'s leadership has been cautiously compliant, with Mayor Muriel Bowser describing Trump's move as “unsettling and unprecedented” yet confirming the city's cooperation.

In his speech, Trump also outlined plans for federal funding to enhance the national capital's infrastructure, focusing on road improvements. However, when pressed about the ongoing push for D.C. statehood, Trump dismissed the efforts as “ridiculous” and “unacceptable,” arguing it would unfairly alter the Senate’s balance by adding two Democratic senators.

The unfolding situation raises significant constitutional and political questions, as Trump's readiness to declare a national emergency to extend federal control over local law enforcement continues to stir controversy and debate about the limits of executive power.