On Tuesday, Jesse Watters from Fox News suspended Mike Nellis, a senior adviser to former Vice President Kamala Harris, after Nellis asserted that the National Guard wasn’t necessary to tackle crime in Chicago.
During a media appearance on Friday, President Donald Trump mentioned he was thinking about deploying the National Guard to Chicago, following its use in Washington, D.C. on August 11. However, there’s been increasing pushback from Democrats regarding this move. Watters questioned Nellis about it on “Jesse Watters Primetime,” mentioning a point that, perhaps, indicates a growing friction in the narrative around crime responses.
Nellis responded, saying, “No, I believe Chicago’s local leaders should step up their game regarding crime. The city has had chances to vote for Trump; look at Louisiana, the murder capital, which hasn’t really addressed issues from Oklahoma.”
Watters pressed further, stating, “Isn’t Chicago a bit larger than Baton Rouge, Mike? You live there; you care, right? Have you heard about her cousin and uncle? They’re both gone. What’s going on?”
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference on Monday, requesting that the President not visit, with Johnson emphasizing their claims of improved crime statistics.
According to Chicago police data up until August 16, murders in the city have dropped by 25% in the past year compared to 2023—though the rates are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Reports indicate there were 474 murders within that timeframe, with an average yearly homicide rate of 722 spanning from 2021 to 2023.
Additionally, a White House press release highlighted that Chicago has had the highest murder rates among U.S. cities for over seven consecutive years, retaining its title of the most violent city for the 13th year running.
Nellis pushed back against Watters, explaining, “I don’t feel safe even at a ball game, knowing I might see armed soldiers. We should focus on having more police on Chicago’s streets. The real issue stems from the $2 billion cut to community policing funds in Trump’s budget.”
Watters countered, “But Mike, you guys have restored police funding. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Everyone knows that the Democrats have done their part. But yes, Chicago does need improvements—agreed?”
Trump’s strategy also involves developing Section 40 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which he invoked after a string of crimes in Washington, D.C., including serious attacks on staffers and the fatal shooting of Republican intern Eric Tarpinian Jacchim on June 30.
Democrats and various media analysts reported a 35% drop in crime in Washington, D.C. for 2024, although this figure didn’t include more severe offenses like felony and aggravated assault. In July, the Metropolitan Police Department announced an investigation into D.C. police commander Michael Puliam for allegedly manipulating crime statistics in his district.
Even in light of Democratic opposition, a Harvard Cap/Harris poll from Monday revealed that 54% of registered voters believe Trump’s efforts to curb crime in the capital were “justified and necessary.” U.S. attorney Janine Piro remarked that the federal takeover in D.C. resulted in over 1,000 arrests and the confiscation of 111 illegal firearms.
