Muriel Bowser says US capital should become 51st state amid Trump takeover | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJoe SommerladWednesday 13 August 2025 11:35 BSTTrump plans to use DC takeover as a 'model' for other citiesDC Mayor Muriel Bowser has revived calls for the District of Columbia to become America's 51st state.This follows Donald Trump's move to federalise Washington's police force, which he justified as necessary to combat crime.Mayor Bowser countered that official statistics show a significant decline in violent crime in DC, with last year recording the lowest levels in 30 years, making the National Guard's deployment unnecessary.She argued that DC's lack of voting representation in Congress and its direct federal control demonstrate why statehood is crucial for the city's independence.Bowser urged residents to protect the city's autonomy and home rule, advocating for the election of a Democratic House to provide a "backstop" against what she termed an "authoritarian push".In fullMayor calls for DC to become 51st state after Trump’s National Guard crackdownThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in