As Donald Trump's return to the White House draws near, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser met with the president-elect on Monday to talk about his inauguration and second Oval Office term.
In a statement late Monday, Bowser said she and Trump discussed several areas where the city and federal government could collaborate, including infrastructure, underused federal buildings, parks and green spaces, and the federal workforce.
"President Trump and I both want Washington, D.C., to be the best, most beautiful city in the world and we want the capital city to reflect the strength of our nation," the statement read in part, according to NBC 4.
Bowser reportedly expressed optimism that the two can continue to find ways to work together, but their past history has been contentious.
The president-elect has frequently described Bowser's city as crime-ridden and "horribly run" and he threatened to mount a federal takeover of her jurisdiction while on the campaign trail. Washington, D.C.,'s status as a federal district means that the president can strip it of its independence and install a Control Board to handle operations instead of the mayor.
Bowser has previously said she would not rule out going to court in an effort to block any attempt by Trump to take over D.C. agencies such as the Metropolitan Police Department.
While it's unclear where the Monday meeting took place, NBC 4 reported that Bowser is out of town so it may have occurred at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
Bowser said in November that she reached out to Trump's team to arrange a meeting after he won the presidential election, with the meeting this week likely the first time they have met since his victory.
Other D.C. officials, such as District of Columbia Council Chair Phil Mendelson, are also hoping to cultivate a more collaborative relationship with the Trump White House.
Mendelson told the Washington Examiner earlier this month that the conversation about Trump's threats to federalize the district "has been frustrating, because it's based on speculation."
"As we all know, there's a difference between campaign rhetoric and reality, right?" Mendelson said. "Where I hope we, all of us, will be focusing is on issues that we're all concerned about, such as public safety and affordable housing and quality education."
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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