STAUNCH liberal Joe Scarborough has extended a rare olive branch to the Trump administration while discussing the president’s recent crime crackdown.
The MSNBC anchor said that Washington DC Democrats are secretly pleased to see hundreds of federal troops enforcing law and order.
On Monday, President Donald Trump, flanked by key cabinet officials, proclaimed their intention to “reclaim the capital.”
He said he was going to federalize the police force in Washington DC and send 800 troops to help crack down on crime.
That day, numerous arrests were made as the president targeted “violent gangs and ruthless criminals” alongside “intoxicated individuals and the homeless,” he informed the media.
Trump also indicated that this was just the beginning of his strong stance and expressed his desire to eventually send troops to other major cities.
“We’re not going to lose our cities over this. This will go further,” he said.
“We’re starting very strongly with DC, and we’re going to clean it up real quick.”
Following this declaration, outraged Democrat leaders have fiercely criticized the president, promising to resist any attempts to deploy federal troops in their states.
However, some usual critics have made a stunning turn and softened their feelings toward Trump as they opened up about being targeted by crime.
During an episode of Morning Joe, host Scarborough commented that critics of the crackdown had confided in him their desire for safer streets, despite their public criticism.
The anchor said that one reporter told him, “Well you know, if he doesn’t overreach, this could actually be a good thing for quality of life.”
The reporter continued, describing dangerous situations his family had faced, but noted that the journalist eventually “posted something entirely different” on social media, according to Scarborough.
The MSNBC anchor has lived in Washington DC for three decades, and said that, while crime has improved in recent years, there’s still work to do.
“It’s certainly not as safe as the nation’s capital should be,” he said on the show.
ANCHOR AGREES
Scarborough isn’t the only media personality raising the alarm on crime in Washington DC.
Amidst discussions of Trump’s declaration, ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips recounted a terrifying encounter where she had to fend off a homeless individual just two blocks from her office.
She said that in the area of their office alone, two people have been shot, and one person died two blocks away.
“It was within the last two years that I actually was jumped walking just two blocks down from here,” Phillips said.
Trump Brings National Guard to DC
How Does Federalizing a City’s Police Force Work?
- The president can take control if local order breaks down or with city approval.
- In DC, federal law allows Congress and the president to oversee police under certain rules.
- A federal official can be put in charge of the local police temporarily.
How Do Federal Police and the National Guard Work Together?
- Federal agents (FBI, DEA, Secret Service) can assist or lead law enforcement efforts.
- The National Guard can be called in by the president to support or restore order.
- When federalized, the Guard works under federal command but usually does not handle regular policing.
- All forces must coordinate closely to avoid overlap and work effectively.
The anchor explained that a half-dressed man who appeared to be homeless attacked her. When she noticed that he apparently didn’t have any weapons, she fought back.
“It was scary as hell, I’m not gonna lie,” she said.
Phillips acknowledged that crime statistics have fallen in the past couple of years, but said this doesn’t change the feelings of those already victimized.
“We can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we’re all experiencing it firsthand, working and living down here,” she said.
