‘Morning Joe’ Host Says ‘Very Liberal’ Friend Secretly Supports Trump’s D.C. Crackdown

“Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough admitted that at least one of his “very liberal” friends had voiced support for President Donald Trump’s move to federalize law enforcement in Washington, D.C., saying during Tuesday morning’s broadcast that his friend was deeply concerned about the rampant crime in the city.

Scarborough read a text sent to him by the friend — whose name he did not reveal — less than 24 hours after Trump announced that he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and declaring a public emergency — a move that allowed him to bring the D.C. Police Department under the control of the Justice Department and DEA Administrator Terry Cole.

WATCH:

Joe Scarborough reads a text from a “very liberal” friend who lives in D.C.:

“I’m not totally opposed to Trump’s National Guard move in D.C… crime remains rampant. I’ve had too many friends carjacked, shot at. None of us will walk more than 3 blocks after 8 P.M.” pic.twitter.com/LSPLCJj671

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 12, 2025

“I want to read you a text from a — someone who — I won’t say their name, but they’re — we’ll just say that they’re very liberal,” Scarborough began. “And he says, ‘This may sound controversial, but I’m not totally opposed to Trump’s National Guard move in D.C. I know he’s doing it for politics, but crime remains rampant. I’ve had too many friends carjacked, shot at. None of us will walk more than 3 blocks after 8 p.m. Thirteen-year-olds are committing many of these crimes, quite a change from a decade ago when things were much calmer.'”

Scarborough, a former Republican Rep. from Florida, went on to contrast his own experience living in Washington, D.C., before the city cracked down on crime.

“Well, that actually sounds like the D.C. that I lived in when I lived a block behind the Supreme Court,” he said. “And, you know, every three days, somebody — one of my neighbors was getting held up at gunpoint. I mean, there has been a crime problem in D.C.”

Democrats writ large have voiced their opposition to Trump’s move, claiming that violent crime in the District is at a 30-year low — but as many have pointed out, the data may have been manipulated to downplay the crime rates.

In July 2025, DC police commander suspended for downgrading shootings, stabbings & carjackings to lesser offenses to make crime stats look better.

They’re not fixing crime, they’re cooking the books. pic.twitter.com/HRc3OQktnS

— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) August 11, 2025