The DMV (D.C., Maryland and Virginia) has endured a lot: brutal humidity, Metro delays and tourists who stand on the left side of the escalator. But now, it faces its greatest challenge yet: Donald Trump, once again calling Washington, D.C. home. Everyone knows that one terrible neighbor. The one who never mows their lawn, lets their dog treat your yard like a bathroom and mysteriously “borrows” your flowers. For Washington, D.C., and its surrounding states, that nightmare has a name–and he’s the nation’s leader.
For residents of the DMV, Trump’s return isn’t just a political inconvenience; it’s an existential crisis. D.C. is statistically, historically and passionately the most anti-Trump city in America. In the 2024 election, he scraped by with a mere 6.5% of the vote, while former Vice President Kamala Harris secured a staggering 90.3%. For context, even New York City gave him about 30%, a relative landslide compared to the District’s cold shoulder.
“It’s like having an unwelcome neighbor move in,” says Jackie Brownly, a junior at Georgetown University and a longtime resident of Northwest D.C. “Only this one doesn’t just let their dog pee on your lawn–he brings an entire parade of red hats with him.” The sentiment is echoed throughout the DMV, where Maryland and Northern Virginia voters have also overwhelmingly rejected Trump’s politics. But the problem isn’t just Trump himself; it’s the wave of supporters and staffers who follow him, setting up shop in a city that neither wants nor welcomes them.
Washingtonians don’t just dislike Trump; they fear what his return means for their city’s identity. Washington D.C., long known as “Chocolate City” for its deep-rooted Black culture, is home to Howard University, Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye and is the birthplace of go-go music. Its neighbor, Baltimore, boasts an even richer Black history. The stomping ground of a young Tupac Shakur, the city has long been a cultural powerhouse for African Americans. Meanwhile, Charles County, Maryland, is the most affluent and educated Black county in the United States. For many, Trump’s presidency represents a direct threat to these communities. Now, his return to D.C. feels like a hostile occupation. “It’s like he’s creating a safe space for racists and fascists,” says Darren Pazar, a Suitland, Maryland resident. “And that safe space is our city.”
University senior and Baltimore native Savannah Brasswell says, “It’s like a cesspool of them everywhere.” She continues, “This administration is creating an open and public forum where anyone can say the most outrageous things all of a sudden because he’s the president.” Brasswell, who moved to Manhattan in late 2021 for her freshman year, now says she feels safer in New York than back home, “I guess what makes me nervous is the proximity. Here in New York, I’m kind of in my own little protected bubble. Even though there’s more Conservatives here, I feel safer.”
D.C. residents are also concerned about policy changes. Trump has previously floated the idea of “taking over” D.C., a city with no congressional representation, by revoking its Home Rule Act, which gave the District a mayor and city council. With full Republican control of Congress, the possibility of dismantling D.C.’s local government is no longer just a far-fetched conspiracy–it’s a legitimate concern. Local activists are preparing for the worst. At a demonstration, Carly Klein, a D.C. resident who canvassed for Harris in the 2024 election, voiced her fears. “I believe Trump’s trying to make Washington more of a nationalistic hub,” she said. Some worry that, with his power, Trump could attempt to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, stripping local control away entirely.
The fear isn’t new. Residents still remember the chaos of Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. “I’ve never felt unsafe in D.C. until now,” says a Howard University student. “The only other time was on Jan.6, four years ago, when his supporters flocked to the area.” While some residents are gearing up for battle, others are simply exhausted. “I don’t know if people have the energy to fight this time,” says the Howard University student. “I’ve had people ask me if I’m moving out after graduation.”
For now, the city remains in a state of mourning–or perhaps a reluctant endurance. The protest signs are back out, and the think pieces are being drafted. D.C. has survived many things–whether it can survive another four years of Trump is still up for debate. As Pazar put it: “We know he wants to take over this city, which is ours. We will fight back in our own way, though, and we will not stand by and let it happen.”
