President Donald Trump slammed Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who described the city takeover as a "summer of love", calling on her to take action.
In an interview on CNN on Thursday, Chris Cuomo asked Durkan about how long the so-called "autonomous zone" established by protesters on Capitol Hill could remain. "I don't know", she replied. "We could have the summer of love."
Earlier in the day, Trump called for more toughness from Seatlle authorities, adding that "if they don't straighten that situation out, we're going to straighten it out". Trump has repeatedly accused Washington state Governor Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Durkan of surrendering the city to the protesters and threatened to take action.
Meanwhile, the situation in the "CHAZ" has been tense lately, as some officers tried to enter the police station in the so-called "Cops Free Zone", according to footage shared online.
Police have also reported about citizens and businesses being asked to pay a fee to operate in the "CHAZ", while other residents said "armed guards" asked to see their IDs to enter their homes in the area, according to Fox News.
Contrary to the president, for Mayor Durkan, establishing the "autonomous zone" was an act of "patriotism" and a "desire to build a better world", she tweeted on Friday, adding that Trump was "wrong again".