Trump's disconnect with DC widens during viral pandemic

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser’s cellphone rang earlier this week from an unfamiliar number: It was White House calling to say President Donald Trump wanted to talk.

president congratulated Washington's mayor on $876 million in federal coronavirus relief going to Washington-area Metro system — money that was surely welcome but t under mayor's jurisdiction, inste going to a regional transportation authority.

Bowser used moment to remind Trump that District — a city of 700,000 people that includes more than 150,000 federal workers— got $700 million less in coronavirus relief money than each of 50 states because it was classified as a territory at Senate Republicans' insistence in first round of federal relief passed by Congress.

As a candidate, Trump spoke warmly of nation’s capital and said he wanted “whatever is best” for its residents. But over course of his more than three years in office a disconnect between president and District of Columbia has emerged. public differences have only become more stark during pandemic.

“It is very important that District is me whole, and that District gets what it’s owed,” Bowser said this week after her talk with Trump.

Aides to mayor said Trump told Bowser her concerns were on his rar, but he me commitments. Similarly,

White House declined to comment.

pace of reopening after coronavirus threat shut down activity around nation also has been a point of contention between Washington and White House.

While Trump ministration has been pushing state and local governments to speed up reopening, Bowser insisted until recently that local infection numbers didn’t justify any relaxation of her stay-home order.

District is easing its stay-at-home order next week, one of last jurisdictions to begin reopening. But city and public health officials warn that nation’s capital will likely take months to fully come back to life.

City officials said it remains unclear if students will be able to return to a physical classrooms in fall. guarded approach stands in sharp contrast with comments from Trump, who on Friday demanded that state and local leers allow houses of worship to reopen “right w.”

Hours earlier, Bowser stressed it was crucial for residents to remain vigilant. Houses of worship will be allowed to hold garings of up to 10 people in District's first phase of reopening.

And just after Trump spoke, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said D.C., along with Chicago and Los Angeles, h experienced a long plateau in infections that ministration officials were closely monitoring.

capital city’s coronavirus death rate is higher than all but four states: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

“re is a disconnect,” said Elear Holmes rton, District’s n-voting delegate in U.S. House. “ White House is looking at ecomy and money, and mayor is looking at science first.”

Bowser ackwledges different approaches, but plays down any conflict with Oval Office.

She stresses that city's reopening plan is based in part on White House task force guidelines and Washington has consulted with Dr. Anthony Fauci, federal government’s top epidemiologist. mayor ded that she's been in contact with ministration officials, as have or city representatives.

“We want everything open," Bowser said. "And way to get everything open is to have a measured and phased approach.”

It wasn't too long ago that Trump courted city leers.

In 2014, as his company was developing a hotel at historic Old Post Office building leased from federal government, Trump donated $5,000 to Bowser’s DC Proud Inaugural Committee. Two of Trump’s children — Ivanka and Eric — gave $2,000 each to mayor’s campaign after she defeated city’s incumbent mayor in primary that year.

After emerging as GOP frontrunner in 2016, Trump said in a “Meet Press” interview that he’d “certainly look at” a deces-long push by District leers to gain statehood.

“I would like to do whatever is good for District of Columbia because I love people,” Trump said.

But earlier this month, Trump told New York Post, “D.C. will never be a state.”

“Why? So we can have two more Democratic — Democrat senators and five more congressmen?” ded Trump, alluding to city’s history of voting overwhelmingly for Democrats.

Neir has Trump embraced life in Washington like some of his recent predecessors.

Barack and Michelle Obama enjoyed a string of date nights at city restaurants. Bill Clinton jogged on National Mall. Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter won over some residents by enrolling ir daughter, Amy, at a D.C. public school.

Trump’s outings in area have centered on dinners at his own hotel and trips to his golf club in rrn Virginia. His infrequent forays elsewhere in District have courted controversy.

Earlier this month, he decided to hold a

In October, Trump attended a World Series game at Washington Nationals' stium. When he appeared on ballpark video screens, D.C. crowd

Democrats and District activists also complain that Trump ministration has yet to reimburse city for more than $7 million in security costs related to 2017 inauguration and ditional costs for Trump’s bulked-up Fourth of July celebration in Washington.

“Wher it’s t paying for inauguration or his Fourth of July event to shorting D.C. residents in coronavirus relief, he’s been clear in his attitude,” said Bo Shuff, executive director of statehood vocacy group DC Vote. “He just doesn’t care about people of D.C.”