Anderson Cooper says Democrats forced into a tricky spot by Trump's federal takeover of DC police

WASHINGTON, DC: As Trump’s invocation of Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act dominates headlines, CNN’s Anderson Cooper isn’t mincing words.

On 'AC360', Cooper suggested that Trump’s dramatic federal takeover of policing in Washington, DC, could be a calculated move to bait Democrats into denying the existence of a crime problem.

In a candid exchange with New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, Cooper warned that by focusing solely on falling crime statistics, Democrats risk looking out of touch, especially when viral videos and high-profile incidents continue to shape public perception of a lawless capital.

What did Anderson Cooper say about Trump's plan to control crime?

On the Tuesday, August 12 episode of CNN’s 'AC360', Anderson Cooper shared that Donald Trump’s move to take control of policing in DC, may be a strategic attempt to challenge Democrats and force them into a politically awkward position.

“It’s so interesting,” Cooper said during a conversation with New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. “The conflict, you know, Democrats face when talking about the policing in the District of Columbia.”

He added, "Do you point out statistics of out of a 30-year low as they as the statistics show, and thereby sound like you’re saying, oh, there’s not a crime problem in Washington, DC? Where there’s crime problem everywhere."

Haberman agreed, "There is a crime problem everywhere.”

She added that many major cities, historically, have struggled with crime and still do. While some crime spikes, especially during the Covid pandemic, have eased in recent years, she noted that many people still feel unsafe in urban areas.

"I mean, in multiple cities, big cities have traditionally had crime problems. In some cases we have seen it come down but there are a lot of people who feel unsafe in big cities."

Haberman also cited DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s cautious response to Trump’s takeover as evidence that progressives are being politically cornered.

Bowser called Trump’s move “unsettling,” but Haberman explained the tightrope she walks, “If, you know, the mayor pushes back on the president, she sounds like she’s not addressing concerns of constituents.Those are the choices.” The segment ended shortly after, with Cooper wrapping up the discussion.

Internet reacts to Anderson Cooper's take on Trump's DC move

Anderson Cooper’s CNN podcast discussing Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to address crime nationwide went viral, sparking a flood of comments from viewers online.

One user wrote, "Dems always think Trump's policies are hidden attacks because Dem's policies are always hidden attacks." A commenter added, "Anderson Cooper calls on Democrats to stop being so dumb and gullible."

A person explained, "If everyone knows crime is a problem in DC and Trump is fixing it then what is the problem? Oh right.. TDS is the problem. How about giving Trump some credit for things and stop calling him the devil?"

An X user tweeted, "Anderson Cooper reveals the smart trap Trump laid for Democrats with his DC crime crackdown, angering liberals," alongside a photo of Trump in a black dress captioned, "Wipe them out, all of them."

One individual shared, "No need for a trap. The idiot Demonkrsps are the enemy within and very predictable. They are too stupid to see it for themselves."

A Trump supporter quipped, "Democrats appear to be on the wrong side of every argument. They are so consumed by their hatred of Trump that they seem to be not thinking straight most of the time."

A different commenter questioned, "Can you believe it took Anderson Cooper to figure it out for the democrats? No wonder they don't have a plan."

Joe Scarborough criticizes Trump’s move and Democrats’ response

Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard to DC on Monday, August 12, sparked strong reactions across liberal media outlets, including MSNBC. On 'Morning Joe', host and DC resident Joe Scarborough criticized both the move and the Democratic Party’s ongoing response to the city's crime issues.

“Certainly don’t need the National Guard in there, or certainly not Marines,” Scarborough said on Friday’s broadcast, before Trump ordered the deployment of 800 troops.

“But you look at Washington, DC, and it’s been dangerous for years. There have been, you know, a year, a couple of years here, a couple of years there, where it’s been a bit better - but certainly over the past five years it has just been an absolute mess. Its quality of life has been terrible.” He added that visitors to the capital have increasingly expressed shock at how unsafe the city feels.

Trump framed the deployment as the fulfillment of a campaign promise to crack down on crime in the capital. However, critics argue the move is both excessive and potentially unconstitutional.

What did MPD data say about crime?

Despite the political uproar, crime statistics tell a more nuanced story. According to early data from the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime has dropped 26 percent since 2024. In fact, total violent crime in 2024 fell 35 percent compared to the previous year.

The Department of Justice celebrated the milestone earlier this year, calling it a 30-year low.

Just days after those numbers were released, Trump was sworn in. A wave of executive orders soon followed, including the controversial directive signed Monday that gave federal authorities control over DC's police force. Trump defended the order by declaring the city to be in a state of “crime emergency.”

Liberal commentators quickly condemned the move. National Guard troops arrived in the capital Tuesday morning. The situation remains fluid.

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