WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to request $2 billion from Congress to clean up and beautify the nation’s capital, including renovations to the White House executive building.

Wearing a “Trump Was Right About Everything!” cap, the president took questions from reporters during a visit to the People’s House exhibit near the White House.

“I’m giving out a contract very soon,” Trump said.

“We’re going to be raising about $2 billion from Congress. Congress is happy to do it, and we’re going to wisely spend the money.”

Trump later told reporters in the Oval Office that he had already discussed his $2 billion funding request with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

“They’re ready. Everybody wants to save DC,” the president said.

During the People’s House visit, Trump said the White House will be working with Clark Construction to make improvements around the Capitol and White House and renovate outdated infrastructure, including rusted light poles, within the next 12 months.

“The streets are going to be re-topped. ... We’re going to take off the asphalt and put beautiful, well-done asphalt,” Trump said.

“You know, if you have a good asphalt worker, it’s the greatest thing you can have. But there aren’t too many of them. But I know all the good contractors. So, this place will be beautified within a period of months.”

Trump also unveiled plans to renovate the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, describing the planned updates as “cosmetic.”

“It’s one of the most beautiful buildings, but you have to study it to realize how incredible and complex it is,” he said.

Trump earlier stated that the White House would seek “long-term extensions” from Congress to maintain federal control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

When asked again whether he would like Congress to give him more control over the District of Columbia after the recess, Trump didn’t give a direct answer. Instead, he said, “D.C. was a hell hole, and now it’s safe.”

Trump added, “The big question is, how long do we stay? Because if we stay, we want to make sure it doesn’t come back.”

He noted that more than 1,000 arrests had been made in a week.

“We’re taking career criminals off the streets. It’s my ambition that when we’re complete, we can take everybody out, and you have a great, a great capital,” he said.

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, earlier rejected claims that crime is out of control in the city, calling the troop deployment an “authoritarian push.”

During his Oval Office remarks, Trump said he may declare a national emergency to keep the troops in the city.

“If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops here as long as I want,” he said.

Trump recently warned Bowser in a post on Truth Social of a possible federal takeover of the capital.

“Washington, D.C. is safe again! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are not playing games!!!” Trump wrote.

“As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory. Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!”

After his remarks at the People’s House, Trump headed to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he said he would oversee the ongoing renovation work.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will have its primary office in the Kennedy Center, he said.

The World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 next year and will be held across 16 different cities.

Trump later announced in the Oval Office that the World Cup draw would be held at the Kennedy Center in December.