Trump Press Secretary Vows Tougher Crackdown on D.C. Crime

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump intends to intensify federal efforts to combat violent crime in Washington, D.C., arguing that Democratic leaders are failing to keep residents safe. “If you break the law in D.C. or anywhere in this country, you need to be held accountable—period,” she told Fox News, adding that the administration will “put criminals behind bars no matter what color they are, no matter where they come from.” Leavitt cited a Washington Post survey showing that 65% of District residents consider crime a “very serious” local problem to bolster the administration’s position. While she did not outline specific new measures, the press secretary said the White House is preparing a broader crackdown on violent crime and illegal immigration, contrasting the president’s stance with what she described as Democratic proposals that would leave “hundreds more criminals roaming free.”