While largely liberal Alexandria has had a tense relationship with Republicans in the past, Gov. Glenn Youngkin included footage of Old Town in a video aimed at bringing Trump administration staffers to live in Virginia.
“To the new members of the President Trump administration moving to the area, I want to personally you to make Virginia your home,” Youngkin said in the 30 second video. Virginia is right across the Potomac. We offer a great quality of life, safe communities, award-winning schools where parents matter and lower taxes than DC or Maryland. ”
The video features shots of the King Street Trolley and the King Street pedestrian zone.
To all the new members of @realDonaldTrump’s administration relocating to the area to make America great again, I am personally inviting you to make Virginia your home. pic.twitter.com/pAkwkoWurR
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) November 26, 2024
The message comes after a campaign season that saw plenty of political spats in Alexandria; few more notably than Del Ray neighbors feuding with Vice President-elect JD Vance. Alexandria shut down Judy Lowe Neighborhood Park in Del Ray at the request of Secret Service because Vance owned a home adjacent to the park. The barriers blocking off the park also sported pro-Harris messages like “NOT GOING BACK” and “CHILDLESS CAT LADIES VOTE”.
While 77% of Alexandria voters cast their ballot for Harris — compared to only 19.9% for Trump — Harris lost the national race.
Youngkin himself was told to “get out of Alexandria” by the Alexandria Democratic Committee back in 2022 after he was heckled by a shopper on a visit to the Bradlee Shopping Center. Youngkin and local leaders briefly made nice for the Potomac Yard Arena campaign, though that love was short-lived after the proposal fell apart.
Others, however, said political differences with neighbors has not dampened their enjoyment of living in Alexandria. Olivia Troye, a former top aid to Mike Pence, told ALXnow earlier this year that she had political disagreement with neighbors but said they always had her back when she faced backlash for her role in the Trump administration.
“Now, quite honestly, I’m very grateful that I live in Alexandria,” Troye said. “I get a lot of death threats and a lot of anger and hate. I get people showing up at my house and the community has been very protective and supportive of me. From that angle, I’ve been very grateful that they’ve taken me in and welcomed me.”
