On Wednesday, Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House, criticized a protest he characterized as a “silly white hippie” demonstration against the federal crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C. He asserted that these protesters were not representative of the local population.
Miller, along with Vice President Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses, visited Union Station to meet National Guard troops who have been stationed there for several days due to a unit’s show.
“We refuse to let communists jeopardize America’s great cities, and certainly not the capital,” he told a gathering near Shake Shack in Union Station. “Let’s address one more point: the protesters were mostly elderly white hippies who don’t represent this city. The majority of D.C. residents are black.”
“We will disregard these foolish white hippies; I think anyone over 90 should just go home and nap,” he continued. “Our focus is on safeguarding Americans and the residents of Washington, D.C.”
Earlier this month, the Trump administration implemented a surge in federal law enforcement to combat what they described as an intolerable crime rate, despite data showing a decline in violent crime in the city.
Last week, Trump took federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployed hundreds of National Guard troops throughout the city to enforce stricter crime measures.
The White House reported that officials had made over 550 arrests since the deployment of federal resources began on August 7, but many local residents have expressed their disapproval of these aggressive actions.
A recent poll indicated that 65% of 604 D.C. residents surveyed believe Trump’s measures will not enhance safety in the city. Additionally, around 80% opposed his executive order to federalize the local police force.
