CNN’s Audie Cornish Compares Trump’s DC Crime Crackdown to North Korean Dictatorship

CNN anchor Audie Cornish made an intriguing comparison during a recent segment, suggesting that President Donald Trump’s approach to crime in Washington, DC, bears resemblance to North Korean leadership tactics. It’s a bold claim, but there’s, perhaps, some humor to it—she noted that North Korea boasts an impressively low murder rate. “There’s probably no murder in North Korea, but I don’t want to be declared,” she quipped, referencing recent reports of zero murders in DC since Trump initiated his crackdown.

Chicago’s mayor didn’t mince words either, criticizing Trump’s National Guard deployment plan as a significant violation of constitutional rights.

Interestingly, starting August 14, DC experienced a 12-day stretch without any murders, a streak that ended when a gunshot wound claimed a man’s life early that Tuesday. Cornish opened her segment by discussing the gravity of Trump’s measures in the capital.

“It’s not just about 2,000 National Guard troops being in DC. The president has ordered a new surveillance unit aimed at suppressing civil unrest,” she highlighted. Trump even hinted at sending troops to Chicago, labeling Democratic leaders as authoritarian.

On August 11, he took charge of the Metropolitan Police Department, using emergency powers under the Home Rules Act—basically allowing him control for up to 30 days without Congressional approval unless extended. Adding to the tension, he dispatched over 2,000 National Guard members across the city, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegses allowing most to carry firearms as of last Sunday.

Cornish pointed out that Trump’s response to the crime wave in major cities, like Chicago, was similar to a dictatorial move. During her segment, she played clips of Trump asserting he is not a dictator, despite accusations to the contrary. “Many people ask, maybe we want a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a smart person. These people are sick,” he insisted.

However, Cornish noted, “There’s no consensus yet that Americans actually want a dictator.” She then shifted focus to the Illinois governor’s reaction to Trump’s plans.

A press conference saw the governor labeling Trump an “aspiring dictator,” accusing him of using military force to threaten political rivals. Cornish added her perspective, suggesting those supporting Trump’s approach may have a skewed view of urban crime issues, saying, “People who see cities as fundamentally corrupt tend to favor these measures.”