Social Media Personality Discusses Crime in Washington, DC
Benny Johnson, a conservative critic and social media figure, took the podium at the White House Press Briefing Room to address crime issues in Washington, DC. He also proposed that staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has faced recent criticism, receive the President’s Medal of Freedom.
“Having lived in DC for 15 years… I’ve experienced numerous robberies and thefts. I lost my truck. I was carjacked and even caught a murderer on my ring camera,” Johnson recounted at the beginning of Tuesday’s briefing. “I witnessed a woman in my neighborhood being threatened for just $20, and my house was on fire while my toddler was inside.”
“For those reporters who falsely claim that DC is a safe place to live and work,” Johnson directed his comments towards White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt. “Thank you for keeping the city safe.”
Johnson, a supporter of President Trump’s administration, expressed his growing fears about safety in the district. He praised the president’s decision to deploy the National Guard and oversee the police force in DC.
This statement follows a recent string of high-profile crimes, including one involving a former DOGE employee, Edward “Big Ball” Coristine, who was attacked earlier this month.
During the briefing on Tuesday, Johnson suggested that the White House honor Coristine to reinforce its commitment to tackling crime in the district.
“Would the President think about awarding the President’s Medal of Freedom to Big Ball?” he inquired of Levitt.
“I haven’t mentioned that to him,” the spokesperson replied with a laugh. “But perhaps it’s something he might consider.”
Johnson represents a growing trend of conservative podcasters and content creators that the White House has been trying to highlight during these briefings, aiming to promote the president’s agenda and counter mainstream media narratives.
In a broader press conference earlier, conservative commentator Blaine Glen claimed that violent crimes in DC last year were committed by “teenage thugs with guns,” advocating for “adult crimes to warrant adult penalties.”
The president’s focus on crime has drawn criticism from Democrats and local DC leaders, many of whom point to data indicating a decline in crime rates in recent years, cautioning that the president may have overstepped his boundaries.
