DC Mayor Bowser Meets with Trump Ahead of Inauguration

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said she had a “great meeting” with President-elect Trump on Monday.

Key Quotes: “I am optimistic that we will continue to find common ground with the President during his second term, and we look forward to supporting a successful inauguration on January 20,” Bowser said. They “discussed areas for the collaboration between local and federal government, especially around our federal workforce, underutilized federal buildings, parks and green spaces, and infrastructure,” she added.

For Context: Some outlets described Bowser and Trump's relationship as contentious. In 2020, they differed over the Black Lives Matter protests, with Bowser unveiling Black Lives Matter Plaza and asking Trump to withdraw law enforcement from peaceful protests. Trump called her incompetent for her handling of the protests. Trump has also criticized the safety of the city, saying at his Madison Square Garden rally that D.C. was a “very dangerous and badly managed place.” 

How the Media Covered It: The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) said, “D.C. is expected to be particularly vulnerable to federal intervention in its affairs,” framing Trump as a potential aggressor. While Fox News (Right bias) emphasized D.C.'s high crime rate, framing Bowser as ineffective. Both Fox and the Washington Post noted the drop in crime since 2023, but only Fox News included that “D.C. saw the largest surge in violent crime between 2022 and 2023 compared to any other large city in the country.” Across the spectrum, outlets highlighted Bowser's remarks regarding collaborating with Trump on shared priorities.