Trump on Washington DC cleanup: 'Did not want PM Modi, other world leaders to see tents, graffiti, potholes'

PM Modi visited the White House on February 13 for a bilateral meeting with Trump, making him the fourth foreign leader hosted by the US president since his inauguration in January.

US President Donald Trump has stated that he did not want visiting world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to see tents, graffiti, or broken infrastructure near federal buildings in Washington D.C., and hence, ordered a major cleanup of the American capital.

"We're cleaning up our city. We're cleaning up this great capital, and we're not going to have crime," Trump said on Friday while addressing officials at the Department of Justice. "We're going to take the graffiti down, and we're already taking the tents down."

He noted that Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has been cooperating with the effort. “We said there are tents galore right opposite the State Department. They have to come down. And they took them down right away. So far, so good,” he said.

Trump stated that he wanted the capital to be a source of pride for the country and a symbol of order for visiting dignitaries. "When Prime Minister Modi of India, the President of France, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom came to see me, I had the route run. I didn't want them to see tents, graffiti, broken barriers, or potholes in the roads. And we had it looking beautiful," he noted.

The president also vowed to make Washington DC crime-free, ensuring safety for residents and visitors alike. "When people come here, they're not going to be mugged or shot or raped. It's going to be cleaner, better, and safer than ever before," he asserted.

PM Modi visited the White House on February 13 for a bilateral meeting with Trump, making him the fourth foreign leader hosted by the US president since his inauguration in January.

Trump has also welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Jordan's King Abdullah II. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are among the other world leaders who have met Trump during his second term in office.