Jennings Claps Back at Axelrod Comparing Louisville Crime to DC: Yeah, And It’s ‘Been Under Democratic Control For Decades’

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings clapped back at CNN chief political analyst David Axelrod over crime Louisville, Kentucky, where Jennings is from, over actions taken by President Donald Trump in in Washington, D.C.

The panelists on CNN’s The Arena on Thursday spoke with host Kasie Hunt about Trump’s crackdown in D.C., which has included the deployment of the National Guard in some areas.

Axelrod and other panelists, including Bakari Sellers and Elliot Williams, expressed outrage over Trump’s actions, and at one point Axelrod brought up crime in Louisville in an apparent effort to trap Jennings on a double standard.

Jennings replied to Axelrod by agreeing that Louisville does have “an epidemic of violence,” and suggested that was because “it has been under democratic control for decades. And my state’s been under a democratic governor for the last two terms.”

After some debate over the situation, Jennings and Williams both agreed there is political advantage for Trump and Republicans on the issue of crime.

AXELROD: I mean, your hometown of Louisville.

JENNINGS: Also a Democrat mayor and a Democrat governor. Go ahead.

AXELROD: Your hometown of Louisville has comparable murder rates and property. So you’re saying it’s all about the Democratic mayor and the Democratic — would you advise the president to describe Louisville as he describes Washington? Would you support sending the military into Louisville?

JENNINGS: But I mean, like —

AXELROD: Well I want to hear —

HUNT: Let Scott answer it.

JENNINGS: Louisville and the District of Columbia are two different places because the Constitution designates —

AXELROD: The President says he can send them into other cities as well.

JENNINGS: But, you’re exactly right. You’re right. Louisville is a violent place. We had a kid shot at a bus stop. We have an epidemic of violence in Louisville, and it has been under Democratic control for decades. And my state’s been under a Democratic governor for the last two terms.

[CROSSTALK]

HUNT: We are up way against a break, so I’m gonna, okay, last point.

WILLIAMS: Absolutely true, but you can’t deny that it’s politically advantageous for the mayor —

JENNINGS: I agree. Can I agree?

WILLIAMS: — to go after the mayors of Philadelphia and Washington.

JENNINGS: Can I agree with you on politics? It’s good politics to reduce crime.

WILLIAMS: Agree.

JENNINGS: That’s why Trump is reducing crime, and I don’t understand why Democrats want to keep it the same.

WILLIAMS: He’s hacking the mayors in blue cities and blue states and it’s just, it’s a winner for him and you know that.

Watch the clip above via CNN.