White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the story of an Indian American business owner in Washington D.C., who said she feels “much safer” following President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital. 

Leavitt pointed to the remarks of Indu Bhatia, who operates a liquor store just half a mile from the White House, as evidence that the administration’s efforts to restore law and order are resonating with residents and business owners.

“Indu recently told the New York Post that her store was robbed so many times that they had to spend exorbitant sums of money on security, jeopardizing her family’s financial future,” Leavitt shared during an August 28 press briefing at the White House.

She added that Bhatia has welcomed the administration’s actions, quoting her as saying, “All of my employees, including me, we feel much safer. And even our customers feel really happy when they walk into our store.”

Framing the administration’s approach as a contrast to Democratic policies, Leavitt said: “While liberal Democrats across the country continue to double down on their failed soft on crime approach, the American people, including local DC leadership, business owners and residents, are rallying behind President Trump’s crime crackdown.”

According to Leavitt, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also acknowledged the president’s efforts, stating on August 27 that neighborhoods “feel and are much safer” due to the surge in federal law enforcement. 

Leavitt thanked the mayor for her cooperation, noting “We thank Mayor Bowser for her cooperation and her willingness to help us make DC safe and beautiful.” She also emphasized that the results underscore the Trump administration’s longstanding message on crime, saying “this is our message to Americans in Democrat run cities nationwide.” 

“Decline is a choice. You don’t have to live in constant fear of being robbed, raped or murdered. Your leaders are lying to you, and they have been failing you for decades,” she added. “The President Trump approach of upholding law and order by letting our brave men and women in blue actually do their jobs to aggressively fight crime works.”

In just a few weeks, President Trump has accomplished more for D.C. residents than Democrats did over the past 50 years, according to officials. This model, she noted, could be replicated in other crime-ridden cities nationwide. 

“As President Trump has said, all of these elected officials in charge have to do is pick up the phone and ask for the president and the federal government’s help. President Trump doesn’t care if they are a Republican or a Democrat leader,” she said adding, “He wants Americans to be safe, and for every law-abiding American citizen across the country to be able to thrive in their city and in their community.” 

Highlighting the impact of President Trump’s interventions in the nation’s capital, she pointed out that there have been more than 1,283 arrests in Washington, D.C., since his efforts began. Overall crime has dropped 19 percent, while violent crime has decreased by 30 percent.

“Carjackings in the district are down 67 percent. Homicides are down 57 percent. Robberies are down 40 percent. Motor vehicle thefts are down 32 percent. And assaults with dangerous weapons are down 23 percent, and property crime is down 18 percent. These numbers prove the president’s bold actions to make DC safe and beautiful again are working, just like he said they would,” she said.

She also discussed President Trump’s measures regarding cashless bail, noting that he signed an executive order to eliminate cashless bail in Washington, D.C. For years, she said, DC’s cashless bail policies allowed dangerous criminals to be quickly released, putting residents and visitors at risk.

“No cash bail has also foolishly forced law enforcement to repeatedly arrest the same offenders over and over again only for them to be released back into our nation’s capital. This is the definition of insanity, and the president is seeking to end it,” she explained.

Additionally, President Trump signed an executive order addressing the city’s crime emergency by instructing the National Park Service to hire more United States Park Police officers and directing the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. to add prosecutors dedicated solely to violence and property crimes.

Citing a recent poll, she noted that 81 percent of Americans view crime as a major problem in large U.S. cities, and a strong majority support the president’s actions as both justified and necessary to curb criminal activity.

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