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WASHINGTON, D.C.- Can a sitting U.S. president simply take over a major American city? Speculation about President Donald Trump (pictured) taking over the city of New York stems from his threats to use federal power to intervene in the city's governance and law enforcement if newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani implements certain policies. Legal experts say the president cannot simply "run" New York City, as it would be unconstitutional.
Context of the Threats
Mayoral Election: During the 2025 New York City mayoral race, Donald Trump expressed strong opposition to the Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani. After Mamdani's victory, Trump and his allies made statements suggesting a federal takeover might be necessary.
- Federal Funding & Law Enforcement: Trump's threats have focused on leveraging the power of the presidency, including potentially cutting off federal funding to the city and deploying federal agents or the National Guard.
- Comparison to D.C.: The Trump administration has already exercised a greater degree of federal control in Washington, D.C., which is a federal district, by taking command of its police force. New York City officials and legal experts note that taking similar action in New York, a self-governing city within a state, would be far more legally complex and likely unconstitutional.
- State Preparation: In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul's administration and other local civic leaders have been meeting behind the scenes to plan for the possibility of federal intervention, building a "virtual war room" to prepare their legal and logistical response.
Legal and Political Viability
- Constitutional Limits: Legal experts, such as those at the Brennan Center for Justice, emphasize that no emergency power allows the president to take over a city, with the 10th Amendment reserving such powers to the states.
- Congressional Power: The use of active-duty military for civilian law enforcement is generally barred by the Posse Comitatus Act unless expressly authorized by Congress, making a full "military occupation" scenario highly unlikely without specific congressional approval.
- Political Sabre-Rattling: Many observers view Trump's comments as political rhetoric aimed at pressuring New York officials and voters, rather than a concrete, imminent plan.
- In essence, while the threat of a federal takeover has been a recent news topic and a point of concern for New York officials, it faces significant constitutional and legal hurdles.