#shorts On 3/2/2023, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “why does he believe that he should step in where the D.C. — where the residents of D.C.’s elected representatives, you know, pass these changes — why does he believe that his — he should substitute his wisdom and judgment for theirs?

KJP: So, look, I mean, just to double down and triple down on what the President has said for decades, which is that he believes every — every city should have their — the right to self-government. That is — still is the same case. That hasn’t — that hasn’t changed anything. He has long believed that D.C. statehood should be something that the residents of D.C. should be allowed. Again, that hasn’t changed. But this is different. The way that we see this is — it’s very different. This is — the D.C. Council put changes forward over the mayor’s objections. And the President doesn’t support changes like lowering penalties for carjacking …

Reporter: I was hoping you could explain a little bit why this is different though. Just because it’s different — the President believes that every city should have the right to self-government except if he belie- — if he disagrees with the outcomes of their — of their governing process?

KJP: Look, one thing that the President believes in is making sure that the streets in America and communities across the country are safe. That includes D.C. That does not change. That’s why he puts forward a historic piece of — a historical plan that he hopes Republicans in Congress would support …

other clips of this published longer video is here: https://youtu.be/sf7MTk4ettM
DC why this is different? have right to self-government except if he disagrees with the outcomes?