Stephen Miller, Deputy Policy Chief of Staff, criticized Democrats during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity,” emphasizing the chaos he perceives in Washington, D.C., and asserting that the National Guard is needed to combat rising crime. He noted that before the National Guard’s deployment, the city witnessed alarming violence.
On August 11, Trump announced the decision to send the National Guard to the capital. Miller pointed out that Democratic leaders in Chicago are resistant to the idea of introducing the National Guard to help address crime issues, asking for his thoughts on the matter.
“Democrats are not fighting for American citizens. They, instead, defend criminals, including gang rapists and foreign murderers,” Miller claimed. “This isn’t just a political stance; it’s an extreme ideology.” He further criticized the handling of law enforcement in Chicago, describing it as a deteriorating situation.
During a recent announcement, Trump suggested a possible National Guard deployment in Chicago, describing the city as chaotic and saying that residents are calling for help. However, at a press conference, Democratic leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, disagreed, with Johnson highlighting a reported decline in crime rates.
According to data available until August 16, murders in Chicago decreased by 25% over the last year compared to previous years, although overall violent crime rates remain elevated when viewed through the lens of pre-pandemic statistics.
The White House’s release revealed that, for the seventh consecutive year, Chicago leads major U.S. cities in murder rates, coinciding with its designation as having the highest number of murders for the thirteenth year running.
Miller claimed that D.C. has seen improvements in safety since Trump’s measures were enacted, asserting that residents had once been afraid to go out. “It was a risky place to be, and now people thanks to Trump feel safer,” he commented.
He expressed disappointment that rather than gratitude for Trump’s efforts, Democrats seem to question his methods, remarking on a disconnect he feels with the current Democratic Party. Miller referred to Trump invoking specific acts of law following multiple violent incidents in D.C., including a shooting that took the life of a Republican intern.
While Democrats pointed to data showing a 35% drop in crime, Miller mentioned concerns about the accuracy of crime statistics in light of recent controversies involving changes to those figures. Despite this, a Harvard Cap/Harris poll indicated that a majority of registered voters still view Trump’s crime strategies in D.C. as essential.
In a related report, attorney Janine Piro noted that federal intervention in D.C. resulted in significant arrests and firearm confiscations.
