Hope Waltz, daughter of Minnesota’s Governor Tim Waltz, criticized President Donald Trump’s recent actions regarding crime in the nation’s capital. She described his approach as “the behavior of cowards,” suggesting a lack of substance in his response.
Hope, whose father was a vice presidential candidate and lost to Trump, continued her strong language, specifically targeting the recommendations from certain books.
“You know, reflecting on the discussions around Booktok and the cowardice shown by some in Washington, it reminded me of my college readings,” Hope Waltz said.
“I remember when I was studying at the University of Minnesota. One of the books was ‘Locking Up Our Own’ by James Forman Jr. He mentions that it’s crucial to pair that with ‘The New Jim Crow.’ The issues of mass incarceration, especially affecting black men, relate back to Washington and the War on Drugs, and that really informs what we are witnessing today.
“It’s worth noting that the crime rate in DC is actually at its lowest level in three decades. But this kind of literature provides a broader perspective, a lens through which to understand America that’s not just focused on wealthy white men,” she contended.
“We need to go deeper into how Trump’s actions play into this entire narrative,” she remarked.
Hope’s comments came in response to Trump’s announcement on Monday regarding Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rules Act, which places the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal oversight and reinstates the National Guard to address crime in the area.
“Our capital is grappling with violent gangs, ruthless criminals, rioters, and rampant drug issues,” she stated.
While individuals like Hope and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser claim Trump’s actions are “erratic and unprecedented,” former Congressional president Stephen Sand stressed the need to understand the bigger picture.
“Watching these youth gangs take control of areas like Navy Yard, it’s not surprising that there’s a call for federal involvement… a Task Force,” he noted during his appearance on Breitbart News Daily.
“We implemented similar strategies with the DC police back in the early 90s, which helped lower the homicide rate. Between 2010 and 2014, the homicide figures hovered around 100 to 170 per year, but we’re now facing 274 murders in 2023,” Sand highlighted.
“Sure, there may be a recent drop in crime, but it’s important to remember that the levels we had in 2010 are still significantly higher than now,” he remarked, adding that DC’s murder rate is “5-6 times greater than in other large cities across the U.S.”
Moreover, as noted by Breitbart News, correspondents and reporters at the White House have been raising concerns about escalating violent crime in the capital. This serves as a counterpoint to those who claim that the crime issues in DC are merely figments of Trump’s imagination.
