Yeemisi Egbeworle, a former press advisor in President Biden’s administration, urged Democrats on Tuesday to engage in discussions about crime as former President Donald Trump intensified his focus on the issue.
In a summer meeting of the Democratic National Committee, Vera Action Direction’s Insha Rahman suggested that Democrats should not emphasize topics like immigration-related crime and carjacking, which might not resonate with many Americans. Egbeworle, speaking on “The Story with Martha McCallum,” countered this view, asserting that crime is indeed a pressing concern for many voters that will influence their decisions in upcoming elections.
Egbeworle remarked, “We felt overwhelmed during the Biden administration regarding crime management,” noting a lack of proactive measures taken. He continued, “I disagree with the speaker at the DNC meeting who said we shouldn’t focus on these issues.”
CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, noted on August 14 that Trump has a slight edge in approval ratings regarding crime, outpacing Biden by a significant margin.
“Many Democrats in solidly blue areas may wish to overlook this issue, but there are people nationwide who will weigh in come 2026,” he stated. He pointed out that funding is lagging, with only $13 million provided compared to the Republican National Committee’s $84 million, suggesting those figures indicate a lack of voter confidence in Democratic candidates. “Crime is significant and needs our attention,” Egbeworle emphasized.
Trump has previously called on the National Guard, with federal forces taking control of Washington, D.C., to “reestablish law, order, and public safety.” In June, he also deployed the National Guard to handle riots in Los Angeles.
While many Democrats oppose Trump’s crime initiatives, a recent Harvard Cap/Harris poll revealed that 54% of registered voters believe his actions in the capital were “justified and necessary.”
Moreover, Trump mentioned he might send the National Guard to Chicago, describing the city as “disturbed.” However, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed their disapproval during a press conference, attempting to mitigate concerns about crime in the city, even as homicide rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
