Debbie Wasserman Schultz says Trump should blame his crime crackdown policies for DC attack

According to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the military shouldn’t be deployed to cities to handle law enforcement responsibilities
Debbie Wasserman Schultz criticized Donald Trump's crime crackdown policies during an appearance on CNN (Getty Images)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz criticized Donald Trump's crime crackdown policies during an appearance on CNN (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Following a horrific shooting targeting National Guard members close to the White House in Washington, DC, Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) publicly accused Presdient Donald Trump of endangering the troops by deploying them throughout American cities.

Speaking on national television, Schultz claimed that the attack was directly caused by the federal government's choice to station military personnel as part of a crackdown on crime.



Debbie Wasserman Schultz believes the military should not be in charge of criminal justice

On CNN, Debbie Wasserman Schultz inquired in a very direct manner, “Would an individual have flown across the country to target law enforcement officers in Washington, DC?”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz condemned President Trump (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) speaks during a press conference on June 24, 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Wasserman Schultz spoke during the event about the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v Wade (Getty Images)

She followed it up by saying, "The answer is likely no." According to her, it was the worst decision to use the troops for civilian policing, especially if it was done without close coordination with the local authorities.

She continued that the cities already have strong and capable law enforcement structures that should be in charge of criminal justice, not the military.

Schultz even went beyond that, claiming that the president “looks everywhere except inward to blame his own policies.” She insisted that the policy of deploying the National Guard to cities is endangering the service members, and therefore, she called for a review of vetting and deployment procedures.

President Donald Trump participates in a call with U.S. service members from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Thanksgiving Day on November 27, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump participates in a call with US service members from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Thanksgiving Day on November 27, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

"We certainly need to make sure we always have the proper and appropriate and tight, tight vetting processes, and those should be reviewed," she said, before noting that it was "pretty disgusting" that "it‘s never the president‘s fault or his policies when it comes to his reaction."

Biden’s 'dangerous' policies are to be blamed, says White House

Donald​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Trump said he initiated the crackdown after local law enforcement was incapable of dealing with the rising crime in some of the most high-profile cities in America. 

He also mentioned that even DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, after a bit of hesitation, acknowledged earlier this year that the federal surge had made a visible difference, which included an 87% drop in carjackings.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the ongoing response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30, 2024 in Washington, DC. The President has said he plans to travel to North Carolina on Wednesday as authorities face challenges delivering supplies to isolated, flood-ravaged areas in the Southeastern United States as the death toll from Hurricane Helene tops 100. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Former President Joe Biden speaks after meeting with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the ongoing response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the Oval Office of the White House on September 30, 2024, in Washington, DC (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

The White House reacted very strongly to the allegation. A spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, said, "This animal would’ve never been here if not for Joe Biden’s dangerous policies, which allowed countless unvetted criminals to invade our country and harm the American people."

"The Trump administration is taking every measure possible — in the face of unrelenting Democrat opposition — to get these monsters out of our country and clean up the mess made by the Biden administration. Instead of defending terrorists, the Democrats should join us in protecting the American people," she added. 

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Law-enforcement sources said Griffin J John's shotgun had reportedly been legally purchased by his mother around his August birthday
2026-10-18T08:50:02.000Z
A man in his 30s was fatally shot on a Midtown subway platform by a gunman in a Deadpool-like outfit as terrified passengers fled
2026-10-18T08:07:39.000Z
Megan Lambert was among four people killed when a gunman opened fire in a special education classroom at the elementary school on Thursday
2026-10-18T05:32:09.000Z
Jason Miller interrupted Katie Zacharia’s Wall Street Journal interview, saying JD Vance wanted to speak with her before she left and never returned
2026-10-18T03:15:22.000Z
The rally took a different turn when an immigrant from Ghana voiced strong support for President Trump and his policies
2026-10-17T22:01:22.000Z
Laura Loomer’s relationship with Trump drew attention as she reportedly raised concerns directly with him about officials she viewed as disloyal
2026-10-17T21:30:09.000Z
The incident occurred as the Norte Fire tore through parts of southern Orange County after breaking out near San Clemente on Friday
2026-10-17T20:19:08.000Z
The mother's own experience had taught her how deeply a school shooting could affect a young person, even after the immediate danger had passed
2026-10-17T18:12:10.000Z
Katie Zacharia received her first ticket in Los Angeles County in June 2023 and was assigned a traffic school course
2026-10-17T09:01:12.000Z
Griffin John II had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said
2026-10-17T08:28:53.000Z