Owolewa Criticizes Trump Aide Over Comments on Washington Protests

Nigerian-American representative in Washington, DC, Dr. Oye Owolewa, has criticized White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller for making disparaging comments about demonstrators in the U.S. capital. Miller, a top aide to former President Donald Trump, reportedly described protesters as “white hippies and crazy communists” after gatherings at Dupont Circle last week.

The protests erupted in response to the federal government’s takeover of policing in Washington, DC, and the deployment of National Guard troops, actions that many local residents have condemned.

In a press statement on Thursday, Owolewa described Miller’s remarks as misguided and out of touch with the diverse makeup of the city’s population. He said that protesters in Washington come from various racial, cultural, and social backgrounds, rejecting any attempt to stereotype or dismiss their concerns.

Owolewa called on the White House to focus on resolving key issues rather than targeting peaceful demonstrators.

He urged the administration to unfreeze $1.1 billion of DC taxpayer funds still held by Congress to help local leaders improve public health and safety, to repeal the policy he referred to as the “Big Unbeautiful Bill,” which he said harms working-class access to healthcare, and to withdraw federal forces such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and military personnel from DC streets.

Owolewa argued that money currently being spent on deploying federal agents up to $20 million weekly, should be redirected toward permanent housing solutions for the city’s homeless population.

“Let me speak for the majority of DC residents,” he said. “Even though we are concerned about crime, we do not want the military patrolling our neighborhoods.”

His comments have drawn attention to growing tensions over federal involvement in local security and broader concerns about the administration’s approach to racial justice and governance in the capital.