U.S. Representative Oye Owolewa (D-D.C.) has strongly condemned former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting a federal takeover of Washington, DC, calling the proposal “deeply disturbing” and “anti-democratic.”

In a press statement released on Tuesday, Rep. Owolewa rebuked Trump’s rhetoric as a political tactic rooted in authoritarianism and a disregard for the will of D.C. residents.

“Donald Trump’s suggestion that Washington, DC should be placed under federal control is deeply disturbing, anti-democratic, and an affront to the very ideals this country claims to stand for,” Owolewa said. “Let’s be absolutely clear: this is not leadership — it’s authoritarian fear-mongering.”

He continued, stating that Trump’s proposal was not about public safety or effective governance:

“What Mr. Trump is proposing is not about security or order, it’s about power and control. It’s a continuation of his long history of disrespecting the will of DC residents and using our city as a political pawn.”

Rep. Owolewa emphasized that Trump’s remarks follow a troubling pattern of suppressing historically marginalized communities:

“This rhetoric is rooted in a dangerous tradition of suppressing Black and Brown communities and denying us the ability to govern ourselves.”

Highlighting the ongoing struggle of over 700,000 D.C. residents, Owolewa noted that despite paying taxes, serving in the military, and contributing to the national economy, they are still denied full representation in Congress.

“Instead of granting us the rights we deserve, we are now hearing threats of taking away the little autonomy we’ve fought so hard to maintain. That’s unacceptable,” he asserted.

Reaffirming his stance, Owolewa declared:“I represent a city that believes in justice, equity, and democracy. We are not lawless. We are not incompetent. We are not to be controlled. We are citizens, and we will not be silenced or sidelined by a political figure who has consistently shown contempt for democratic norms.”

He ended his statement with a powerful call to action: “I urge all Americans who care about fairness and freedom to stand with the people of Washington, DC. The time for DC statehood is now, not because of threats like this, but in spite of them. We deserve full rights, full respect, and full recognition.”

Rep. Owolewa has long championed D.C. statehood, civic equity, and protection against political overreach, and remains committed to defending the district’s autonomy and advocating for full rights for its residents.