White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany recently addressed President Trump’s calls to defund Democrat cities facing violent protests.
During a press conference Thursday, McEnany told reporters the move is meant to protect the life, liberty and property of people as well as businesses attacked by rioters. She said the order is meant to push states to act in their full capacity to stamp out anarchist violence.
The press secretary pointed to cities such as New York City, Seattle and Portland where increased violence has been on the rise in recent weeks. As cited by McEnany, New York has seen a 177-percent increase in shootings while approximately 140 officers were injured during unrest in Portland.
“This is a dereliction of duty and if the states will not act in their police power and secure their streets, this president will use every lawful mechanism to him to try to supplement their failures,” she stated.