Washington, DC clears homeless encampment following Trump's ultimatum

Washington, DC officials have cleared a homeless encampment near the State Department after President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum demanding the city clean up its streets.

On Wednesday, Trump posted on social media, warning DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to remove homeless encampments in the city or face intervention from the federal government.

"We have notified the Mayor of Washington, D.C., that she must clean up all of the unsightly homeless encampments in the City, specifically including the ones outside of the State Department, and near the White House," Trump posted on Truth Social. "If she is not capable of doing so, we will be forced to do it for her! Washington, D.C. must become CLEAN and SAFE!"

“We want to be proud of our Great Capital again,” he added. “Thank you Mayor Bowser for your efforts on behalf of the Citizens of our Country. Hopefully you will be successful!”

The city had already scheduled the removal of several encampments between February 27 and March 13, but following Trump's comments, Bowser expedited cleanup efforts near the State Department after a call with the Trump administration, The Washington Post reported.

Trump has previously advocated for the federal government to take control of governing the capital, arguing that local leaders have failed to adequately address crime and homelessness. He has particularly emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment for foreign leaders visiting the city.

"I think that we should govern the District of Columbia," Trump told reporters last month. "I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawless."

Bowser, however, downplayed the notion that the administration was pressuring the city. "We always clear homeless encampments,” Bowser said. “We always do, and we do it according to protocols that have worked in the District that won’t have the effect of just moving people around, but trying to get them housed.”

The mayor has shown some cooperation with the Trump administration's push to clean up the city. In December, she described a meeting with Trump as “great” and discussed priorities for Washington, DC. Additionally, Bowser recently announced that the city would be painting over the Black Lives Matter Plaza mural. While she previously said the mural would be permanent, it will now be replaced as part of DC’s America 250 project in preparation for the nation's 250th anniversary next year.