Asked Wednesday whether he'd work with Congress to extend the emergency authorization allowing him to seize temporary control of local law enforcement, Trump said he'll ask Congress for a "long-term" extension of federal control of the Washington police force.

But during his speech announcing the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees on Wednesday, Trump repeatedly floated circumventing Congress to maintain his hold over the city’s law enforcement. “If it’s a national emergency we can do it without Congress, but we expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump said.