CNN Host Discusses National Guard’s Impact on Crime in Washington, DC

During a segment on “CNN Newsnight,” Abby Phillip, a host at CNN, downplayed the involvement of the National Guard in President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting strategy for Washington, DC. She suggested that if properly funded, the National Guard’s tasks could have been handled by the National Park Service. Still, she acknowledged that the National Guard’s presence coincided with a significant drop in crime rates since early August.

“The National Guard costs millions every day — they need payment, and they’re doing what the Parks Services could handle if given proper funding,” Phillip explained.

Later, Ben Shapiro, co-founder of Daily Wire, pointed out the noticeable decrease in crime linked to federal management of the National Guard in Washington. However, Phillip maintained that the National Guard was not directly responsible for arrests or the removal of illegal firearms. “To clarify, the National Guard hasn’t done any of that. That work falls to other law enforcement entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” she clarified.

CNN’s senior political commentator, Scott Jennings, remarked that while walking past the National Guard over the weekend, he felt a sense of safety, suggesting that their presence might deter criminal activity.

According to statistics from the police union, robbery incidents fell by 42%, while carjackings plummeted by 85% in Washington, DC, as of August 25.

Since Trump’s initiative began, law enforcement has arrested 1,761 individuals and seized 195 illegal firearms, as Attorney General Pam Bondy confirmed on Wednesday. Following a period where Washington had the fourth-highest murder rate in 2024, only one murder has occurred since the intensified crackdown.

Notable arrests included members of MS-13 and Tren de Agua. Trump’s firm action in Washington started after several high-profile murders in May and June, including the tragic fatal shooting of 21-year-old Congressional intern Eric Tarpeinian Jachim and two employees from the Israeli embassy. This aggressive approach followed an incident where Edward Coristine, a staff member at Government Efficiency (DOGE), was seriously injured while trying to prevent a carjacking.