CNN Anchor Compares Trump's D.C. Crackdown to North Korean Dictatorship

CNN anchor Audie Cornish commented on President Donald Trump's crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., comparing his actions to those of a North Korean dictator. During a segment on "CNN This Morning," Cornish discussed criticisms of Trump's deployment of U.S. National Guard troops in the nation's capital to address crime. She humorously noted that the murder rate in North Korea is also low, though she acknowledged she didn't want to be presumptuous.

The segment highlighted the impact of Trump's crackdown, which began on August 14th, with the city experiencing twelve consecutive days without a homicide. This streak ended early Tuesday morning with a reported death from a gunshot wound. Cornish began the segment by discussing the latest developments in Trump's D.C. crackdown, including an executive order creating specialized National Guard units to quell civil disturbances. She also mentioned Trump's threat to send troops to Chicago, which has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders.

Trump's actions included taking federal control of D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department on August 11th, using emergency powers granted by the Home Rule Act. This allows the president to federalize the MPD for up to 30 days, unless Congress extends the duration. Additionally, over 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in the city, with the Secretary of Defense ordering the majority of them to carry firearms.

Cornish also discussed Trump's threat to deploy troops to other major U.S. cities, such as Chicago, to address crime. She played a video of Trump responding to accusations of acting like a dictator. In the video, Trump stated that some people might prefer a dictator, but he himself is not one. He expressed his concern for the cities and the negative reactions to sending in troops.

Following the clip, Cornish played a clip of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticizing Trump's proposal for a federal crime crackdown in Chicago, calling Trump a "wannabe dictator." Cornish also suggested that those who support Trump's actions might have a skewed perception of urban areas.