De Blasio Challenges Trump To Debate On NYC Issues

NEW YORK — Forget Detroit. Mayor Bill de Blasio challenged President Donald Trump to a debate on his home turf Thursday night amid the pair's latest spat over local issues.

The Democratic mayor's dare came hours after the Queens-born Republican president slammed his handling of recent water attacks on NYPD cops.

"I challenge you, Donald Trump, to come to New York City and I will debate you about what's right for New York City," de Blasio said at a BuzzFeed live event at the East Village's Webster Hall.

"He doesn't understand New York City and when his presidency is over really soon, he will not be welcome back in New York City," the mayor added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

The mayor's call for a face-off with Trump comes days ahead of the second set of Democratic presidential debates in Detroit. He'll share the stage July 31 with two frontrunners, former vice president Joe Biden and California Sen. Kamala Harris.

De Blasio has traded jabs with Trump since the start of his longshot presidential campaign two months ago. The mayor has nicknamed the president "Con Don" while Trump has lambasted de Blasio as "the worst mayor in the United States."

Earlier Thursday, Trump tweeted that de Blasio should "STAND UP" for the police officers who were doused with buckets of water in videos circulated on social media earlier this week. Police say they have made two arrests in drenching incidents.

"What took place was completely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated. Bill de Blasio should act immediately!" Trump said on Twitter.

In response, De Blasio defended his condemnation of the cop-soakings and slammed Trump as out of touch.

"This is a guy who literally does not even understand the place he came from, and he didn't live the life of everyday New Yorkers," the mayor said at an unrelated news conference Thursday. "He was a child of a millionaire. He didn't know what life was like in the streets of New York."