Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 31: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday compared Chicago’s murder rate to Islamabad and New Delhi while defending President Donald Trump’s new executive order authorising federal intervention in the city.

Leavitt said at a press conference, “For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has had the most murders of any US city. That is unacceptable.” She added that the city’s arrest rate this year stood at just 16 percent of nearly 148,000 reported crimes. “Just last year, Chicago's murder rate per capita was more than double the murder rate in Islamabad and nearly 15 times more than Delhi,” she noted.

Her remarks come amid a clash with Chicago leadership, following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s executive order barring city agencies and police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

Trump escalated the dispute on Truth Social, calling Johnson “incompetent” and pointing to Washington, DC’s low crime record. “DC IS SAFE AND BOOMING!!!” he wrote, highlighting recent arrests and gun seizures.

Vice President JD Vance also supported the administration’s stance during a Wisconsin visit, questioning why local leaders appear angrier about federal assistance than the safety of their residents.