White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller compared Washington, DC’s violence levels to Baghdad and other dangerous global locations, following US President Donald Trump‘s suggestion to federalise the city.During an interview with NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer, Miller said that Washington DC is more violent than Baghdad, Ethiopia, and other parts of dangerous world. “The president has been very clear that he’s gonna take the action necessary to secure the city of Washington for the people who live here, for all the American people, and all who visit here,” Miller said. He further asserted, “It’s our capital city, it is more violent than Baghdad, it is more violent than parts of Ethiopia and parts of many of the most dangerous places in the world.”Miller elaborated on his position, referencing statistical comparisons between DC and various troubled regions worldwide, emphasising the president’s commitment to ensuring safety in the nation’s capital.The discussion arose after former DOGE employee and Elon Musk associate Edward “Big Balls” Coristine experienced a severe assault by young individuals during an attempted carjacking.Trump issued a statement addressing the situation: “Crime in Washington, DC, is totally out of control. Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 years old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.”Trump further cautioned, “They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now! The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14… If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”Musk supported the federalisation proposal to address crime rates, while CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings noted that “the plight of American hero Big Balls” had “set off a firestorm” within the GOP.
