By Jerrod Zisser
WHAT HAPPENED
At a July 8, 2025 White House Cabinet meeting, President Trump suggested that the federal government could “step in” and take control of New York City if a “communist” like Zohran Mamdani were elected mayor. Trump also floated the idea of taking over Washington, D.C., saying the government could “run it flawlessly.”
WHY IT MATTERS
This is one of the clearest public statements Trump has made about overriding local governance in America’s largest city. It reflects his ongoing push to expand executive power and raises serious constitutional concerns.
Legal scholars across the political spectrum agree: there is no clear constitutional mechanism for a president to take over a city like New York. Even D.C., which is governed differently under the Home Rule Act, cannot simply be seized by presidential decree without major legal and political battles.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Zohran Mamdani’s response and growing national profile
Legal analysis from constitutional scholars
Trump’s ongoing rhetoric about expanding executive power
BOTTOM LINE
Trump’s remarks signal a growing willingness to threaten local autonomy and push the boundaries of presidential authority. This is not just political theater—it’s a warning shot.
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