Fox News reporter Peter Doocy challenged White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for seemingly placing the blame on Republicans for the rising crime rates in major cities across the United States. During a White House press briefing, Doocy referenced an incident in which three armed assailants reportedly carjacked Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar in a Washington D.C. neighborhood. He questioned Jean-Pierre, asking, “Isn’t D.C. run by a bunch of Democrats?”
Jean-Pierre responded by giving credit to legislation passed by President Joe Biden that allocated funds for more law enforcement officers. She also accused Republicans of not helping by voting against the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act. Doocy challenged her statement, asking, “How are you gonna blame Republicans for this?” He pointed out that D.C. is predominantly run by Democrats.
The press secretary remained steadfast in her response, reiterating that the president has been upfront about his efforts to make communities safer. She reminded Doocy that not a single Republican in Congress voted for the American Rescue Plan, which included billions of dollars to hire more police officers and keep communities safe. Jean-Pierre stated that Republicans had nothing to do with this, as they did not support the act.
Unsatisfied with the response, Doocy pressed further, asking if Biden would be comfortable leaving his Corvette parked on the streets of Southeast D.C. overnight. However, Jean-Pierre avoided giving a direct answer, stating that she would not entertain hypothetical situations. She continued to focus on Biden’s actions and efforts as president, ignoring the question about the safety of D.C. streets.
Doocy then directed a pointed question at Jean-Pierre, asking, “Who is safe on the streets of D.C. if even members of Congress like Cuellar aren’t?” In response, the press secretary expressed relief that Cuellar had emerged unharmed from the carjacking incident. However, she failed to acknowledge the larger issues at hand and instead focused on expressing gratitude for his safety.
Cuellar himself addressed the incident in a separate press conference, recounting the terrifying experience of being held at gunpoint and having his car taken. He stated that he had to “keep calm” in the situation and let the perpetrators take his belongings, including his phone and even his sushi. Luckily, the car and all his other belongings were recovered by the police within a couple of hours.
It is concerning to see the White House deflect from the growing issue of crime in major cities and instead attempt to place blame on Republicans. As Doocy pointed out, D.C., like many other major cities, is primarily run by Democratic leaders.
It is unfair to place the blame on an opposing party for a failure that falls squarely on the shoulders of their own party’s leaders, including President Biden. The American people deserve honest and practical solutions, not finger-pointing and deflections from the White House. It’s time for the Biden administration to take responsibility and address the crime spike in our cities before it’s too late.