D.C. is unique — it’s not a state, so Congress already has extraordinary oversight powers. That makes it a tempting testing ground for executive overreach. If a president successfully assumes direct operational control of its government or police under the banner of “restoring order,” it could set a precedent for similar moves elsewhere, especially in Democrat-led cities.

The risk here isn’t just what happens to D.C. — it’s the potential for a proof of concept for federalized policing or even quasi-martial law in targeted regions. If crime statistics are manipulated or selectively publicized, he could manufacture justification for interventions in other cities by declaring them “failed” or “in insurrection.”