Bowser avoids clash as Trump escalates federal control in D.C.

The big picture: Unlike their contentious relationship in Trump's first term, Bowser has mostly avoided public disagreements with the president in his second — whether capitulating on Black Lives Matter Plaza or keeping mum after White House threats.

State of play: Protests erupted in D.C. Monday morning — even before Trump announced his takeover of the city's police and deployed the National Guard. They continued into the evening.

• Democratic lawmakers blasted Trump.
• The D.C. Council unanimously slammed the move as "a manufactured intrusion on local authority."

Meanwhile, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) pledged to reintroduce legislation granting D.C. full control over the National Guard and MPD when Congress reconvenes.

• D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb told Axios that legally, "We are considering all of our options and will do what's necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents."

The other side: The D.C. Police Union backed the temporary federal intervention but emphasized long-term fixes like staffing and recruitment.

Zoom in: At a Monday press conference, Bowser echoed the union's call for more police recruitment and retention — and committed to working with the feds to combat violent crime while maintaining the trust of D.C. communities.

• She called Trump's actions "unsettling and unprecedented," but said she wasn't "totally surprised" given his rhetoric.

• The mayor pushed back on claims that D.C. is facing a crime surge, reiterating her administration's commitment to public safety and the need for statehood.

The intrigue: Asked if she's worried about losing control of the city and facing a "complete disaster," Bowser replied:

• "What could be a disaster is if we lose communities who won't call the police... if people who aren't committing crimes are antagonized into committing crimes."

Go deeper: Trump to deploy National Guard to D.C. and federalize city police

• Trump's D.C. crime claims don't match the data