Washington D.C. Yonhap News. 

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 5th (local time) that if the violent crime in Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, is not brought under control, he would make Washington D.C. a federal district directly under the federal government's control.

In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, President Trump listed violent incidents involving teenage gang members in Washington D.C. and stated, "If this continues, I will use my authority to federalize the city."

President Trump wrote, "Washington D.C. should be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and the world to see. If Washington D.C. (the city government) does not act swiftly and properly, we will have no choice but to take over the city under federal control."

During his presidential campaign last year, President Trump referred to Washington D.C., which has a strong Democratic inclination, as a "dirty city full of crime" and hinted at the possibility of reclaiming Washington D.C.'s autonomous authority if he took office.

However, U.S. media outlets, including The Washington Post (WP), reported that taking over the administration and public safety affairs of Washington D.C. at the federal government level would require a change in law and is not something President Trump could achieve through an executive order without a decision from the federal Congress.

Yonhap News