White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller delivered a stark assessment of the nation’s capital on Thursday, claiming Washington, D.C., is now “more violent than Baghdad” and more dangerous than “parts of many of the most dangerous places in the world.”
His remarks came as President Donald J. Trump threatened to federalize the city following a brutal assault on a high-profile technology figure.
“The president has been very clear that he’s gonna take the action necessary to secure the city of Washington for the people who live here, for all the American people, and all who visit here,” Miller said in an interview with NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer. “It’s our capital city, it is more violent than Baghdad, it is more violent than parts of Ethiopia and parts of many of the most dangerous places in the world.”
According to Miller, the statistics are “really shocking,” showing D.C. surpassing the crime levels of some failed states. He vowed that Mr. Trump “is gonna do what’s necessary to make sure our nation’s capital is safe for all Americans.”
.@StephenM on Washington, D.C.: "It is more violent than Baghdad … [@POTUS] is going to do what's necessary to make sure our nation's capital is safe for all Americans." pic.twitter.com/8Sf2Z2mnQ3
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 7, 2025
The president’s warning followed the beating of Edward “Big Balls” Coristine — a former Department of Government Efficiency employee and protégé of entrepreneur Elon Musk — during a botched carjacking.
The attack, carried out by a group of youths, has intensified Republican criticism of the city’s handling of violent crime.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. “Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16 years old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.”
The president argued that the leniency toward violent juveniles has emboldened offenders. “They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it’s going to happen now!” he said. “The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14… If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”
The language underscores a broader Republican critique that the capital’s leadership — dominated by progressive lawmakers — has failed to control lawlessness.
Conservatives point to policies that reduce penalties for offenders and emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration, arguing they have left residents vulnerable and eroded public trust.
Musk echoed the president’s call for decisive federal action, saying D.C. should be taken under direct federal control to “crack down on crime.”
CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings noted that “the plight of American hero Big Balls” has “set off a firestorm” within Republican ranks, galvanizing calls for a stronger federal hand in local law enforcement.
For Mr. Trump and his allies, the issue is not just about crime statistics, but the symbolism of an unsafe capital city — a place meant to embody the strength and stability of the United States.
As Miller put it, “It’s our capital city,” and leaving it in a state of unchecked violence, conservatives argue, sends the wrong message to both Americans and the world.
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