Trump Says He Can Federalize D.C. Indefinitely: ‘We Can Do It Without Congress’

President Donald Trump warned Wednesday during a press conference that he doesn’t need congressional approval to extend the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., and claimed local crime is so bad that it could constitute a national emergency if he says so.

Trump invoked D.C.’s Home Rule Act to bring the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control Monday, but needs the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate to pass a joint resolution in order to extend its 30-day timeframe — unless he takes further action.

He floated as much during a press conference Wednesday at the Kennedy Center.

“Well, if it’s a national emergency, we can do it without Congress,” said Trump. “But we expect to be … before Congress very quickly. And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously.”

“So we’re gonna need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain, initially, to D.C.,” he continued, adding: “We’re going to use it as a very positive example, and we’re going to be asking for extensions on that — long-term extensions.”

Trump claimed 30 days isn’t enough, before noting that he’s bypassed Congress before.

“We’re gonna have this in good shape, and don’t forget — in the border, everyone said it would take years and you’d have to go back to Congress,” Trump said Wednesday. “I never went to Congress for anything. I just said, ‘Close the border,’ and they closed the border.”

“We’re going to do this very quickly,” he added. “But we’re going to want extensions. I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will, but I think the Republicans in Congress will approve this pretty much unanimously.”

“The numbers are worse than they ever heard,” Trump said Wednesday. “Don’t let anyone tell you they’re not. And the whole statistical charts that they made, the whole thing is a rigged deal … They said it’s the best in 20 years. No, it’s the worst in 20 years.”

“This whole … country is going to be so different and so great,” Trump added Wednesday.