As America Marks 250 Years, Trump Urged to Restore D.C.’s Original Borders by Reclaiming Arlington
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the wake of Virginia Democrats proposing a new electoral map that would allocate 10 of the state’s 11 House seats to Democrats, calls have intensified for President Donald Trump to take executive action to restore Washington, D.C.’s original borders by returning Arlington County to the District. The move, supporters argue, would address a longstanding historical injustice rooted in the legacy of slavery and rebalance political representation.
The controversy stems from the fact that Arlington County, home to nearly 200,000 residents, was originally part of the District of Columbia but was retroceded to Virginia in 1846. This transfer was made explicitly to allow slavery to continue in Northern Virginia, a dark chapter in American history. Today, many Arlington residents work as federal employees and benefit from living in Virginia while simultaneously exerting significant influence over federal governance.
Virginia’s newly proposed electoral map has drawn sharp criticism for its apparent partisan bias. The plan would grant Democrats 10 out of 11 congressional seats despite the state having voted approximately 46% for Trump in recent elections. Critics argue this disproportionate representation marginalizes Republican voters who would be left with roughly 9% of the state’s House delegation. The map has even been challenged legally, with a Virginia judge recently voiding the redistricting effort on grounds that lawmakers overstepped their authority.
Proponents of restoring Arlington to D.C. emphasize that Arlington’s current status is a vestige of systemic racism. The original cession of land to Virginia was not only a political maneuver but also a deliberate effort to preserve slavery in a region otherwise moving toward abolition. Advocates say that reintegrating Arlington into the District would correct this historical wrong and align with the founders’ vision of a federal capital free from state control.
“If Arlington residents want to influence Washington, they should be in Washington, just as the founders intended,” one supporter noted. This idea resonates amid ongoing debates about D.C. statehood and representation. The District’s residents currently lack voting representation in Congress, a situation many view as unjust given their significant federal responsibilities and population size.
President Trump has previously demonstrated a willingness to use executive authority to address symbolic and substantive issues tied to America’s history and governance. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order to bring an IndyCar race to Washington, D.C., as part of the America250 celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Advocates suggest that a similar executive order could be used to adjust the District’s borders, thereby restoring Arlington to D.C.
This proposal also intersects with broader national conversations about electoral fairness and racial justice. The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has long monitored voting rights issues, including gerrymandering and disenfranchisement. Meanwhile, the National Archives preserves the founding documents that outline the original intent behind the District of Columbia’s creation.
Restoring Arlington would not only have symbolic significance but also practical political implications. It would reduce Virginia’s congressional delegation by one seat while increasing D.C.’s population and potentially its influence. The move could also address concerns raised by the Federal Election Commission about equitable representation and voter dilution.
As America reflects on its 250 years of history, the debate over Arlington and D.C.’s borders underscores the complex interplay between history, race, and political power. Whether President Trump will act on this proposal remains to be seen, but the conversation highlights the enduring impact of decisions made nearly two centuries ago and the ongoing effort to reconcile the nation’s ideals with its realities.
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