U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concerns over the state of Washington D.C., particularly regarding the presence of tents and graffiti near federal buildings, and ordered a swift cleanup to ensure the city presented a more polished image to visiting world leaders. Trump revealed that he had taken special measures to ensure that leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and others, would not see these unsightly elements during their visits.
During a statement at the Department of Justice, Trump emphasized his efforts to “clean up the city” and asserted that crime and disorder would not be tolerated. He noted that the city had been marred by visible signs of neglect, such as tents in prominent areas like near the State Department and graffiti that detracted from the capital’s appearance.
“We’re cleaning up our city. We’re cleaning up this great capital,” Trump declared. “We’re not going to have crime, and we’re not going to stand for crime. We’re going to take the graffiti down, and we’re already taking the tents down.” He added that Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had been supportive of these efforts and had taken immediate action to remove the tents.
Trump shared that his primary goal was to ensure that the capital was presentable for international leaders. “When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom came to see me over the last week and a half, I didn’t want them to see tents, graffiti, broken barriers, or potholes in the roads,” he said. “I wanted it to look beautiful.”
The President made it clear that his vision for Washington was to have a cleaner, safer, and more attractive city, free from the issues that had plagued it. He spoke about a future where the capital would be crime-free, offering a safe environment for tourists and world leaders alike. “When people come here, they’re not going to be mugged, shot, or raped,” Trump declared. “It’s going to be cleaner and safer than it ever was.”
Trump’s remarks came in the context of a series of high-profile international visits, including Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with him on February 13. The President’s attention to detail in preparing the city underscored his commitment to creating a welcoming environment for visiting foreign dignitaries.
