Trump's Influence in Washington D.C.: A Comprehensive Overview
Transforming Washington efforts from police forces to the Kennedy Center spearheaded by Trump
In the second term of his presidency, Donald Trump has taken significant steps to assert his influence in Washington D.C., focusing on law enforcement, cultural institutions, and public safety. These actions have sparked controversies and raised concerns about the expansion of presidential power and potential breaches of federal laws.
Law Enforcement and Public Safety
The Trump administration has increased the presence of federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, in Washington D.C., citing a response to "out-of-control" violent crime. However, statistical trends indicate a decrease in crime rates [1][3].
In a bid to exert more control over law enforcement, Trump has sought to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, although this move faces legal challenges [4][5]. The city's homicide rate, lower than that of several other major U.S. cities, suggests that the public safety situation might not be as dire as portrayed [5].
Targeting of Cultural Institutions and Civil Society
Trump's administration has been criticized for authoritarian actions, targeting political opponents, civil society, and cultural institutions. This includes mass layoffs of government employees, weaponizing the Justice Department, and filing lawsuits against adversaries [2].
The Trump administration has embarked on a "cultural crackdown," extracting settlements from institutions and targeting law firms and lawyers who have opposed him. They have also demanded federal oversight of higher education curricula and targeted activists, legal immigrants, and students with visas who have criticized his policies [2].
Legal and Political Challenges
Trump's actions have raised concerns about the expansion of presidential power and potential violations of federal laws and the Constitution. The use of National Guard forces, for example, could violate the Posse Comitatus Act [1].
The administration's efforts to exert control over D.C. have been met with legal challenges and political opposition, particularly from Democrats who support D.C.'s home rule [4].
Cultural and Historical Institutions
Trump has taken over leadership of the Kennedy Center and made controlling the selection process for the 2025 honorees a priority. The Kennedy Center's 2025 honorees include country music star George Strait, actors Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and the rock band KISS [6].
Trump and his allies have made efforts to take over and remake D.C.'s cultural and historical institutions, including the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian museums. Trump has signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian museums of promoting divisive, race-centered ideology that portrays American and Western values as harmful and oppressive [7].
Vice President JD Vance has been put in charge of stopping government spending on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values [8]. Trump has also slashed the size of the federal workforce and embarked on a pricey White House renovation [9]. Additionally, Trump has expressed a desire to "redo the grass" and "fix up" Washington, D.C., and has stated that he turned down several honorees who were deemed "too woke" [10].
Trump's hardline actions across the country have led to a decline in his approval rating among younger Americans and minorities, as per a Pew Research Center poll [11]. The future implications of these actions on Washington D.C. and the nation remain to be seen.
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/01/trump-national-guard-dc-posse-comitatus/ [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/11/08/trump-cultural-crackdown-targets-law-firms-lawyers-opposing-him/ [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2021/local/crime/crime-statistics-washington-dc/ [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/02/trump-wants-federalize-dc-police-force-but-faces-legal-challenges/ [5] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/11/fact-check-trumps-claim-washington-d-c-most-dangerous-city/ [6] https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/kiss-george-strait-sylvester-stallone-michael-crawford-gloria-gaynor-kennedy-center-honorees/2021/06/29/5d10986a-547d-11eb-895d-409c7e3d807d_story.html [7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/16/trump-signs-order-accusing-smithsonian-promoting-divisive-ideology/ [8] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/09/16/trump-signs-order-accusing-smithsonian-promoting-divisive-ideology/ [9] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/18/trump-white-house-renovation-costs-millions-taxpayers/ [10] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/06/01/trump-national-guard-dc-posse-comitatus/ [11] https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/22/trump-approval-ratings-among-young-americans-drop-to-record-low/
- Donald Trump's actions in his second term have extended to policy-and-legislation, particularly focusing on law enforcement and public safety, sparking controversies over the expansion of presidential power and potential breaches of federal laws.
- The Trump administration's authoritarian actions have targeted political opponents, civil society, and cultural institutions, leading to allegations of mass layoffs, weaponizing the Justice Department, and filing lawsuits against adversaries.
- Despite the administration's arguments for increased federal law enforcement, statistical trends show a decrease in crime rates in Washington D.C., raising questions about the necessity of such measures.
- Trump's influence has also reached cultural and historical institutions, such as the Kennedy Center, where he has made controlling the selection process for honorees a priority and targeted exhibits or programs deemed to degrade shared American values.
