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Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith is facing backlash and mockery on social media after she appeared to not understand a question from the media about the department’s “chain of command” amid President Donald Trump’s recent federalization of the department.
“Can you tell us what the chain of command is now?” a reporter was heard asking Smith during a press conference Tuesday morning.
“What does that mean?” the police chief responded.
“Well, is it Pam Bondi speaking to the mayor? Is it you? How does this work?” the reporter continued, before Bowser stepped in to explain the department’s chain of command following Trump invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act Monday, which allows the president to assume emergency control of the capital’s police force.
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The exchange came amid Bowser’s brief press conference Tuesday morning following her meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“Our organizational chart, how we do business, how we fund the police, none of that has changed,” Bowser explained, adding that Bondi is working as Trump’s “proxy” under the federalization order and that the pair are in close communication.
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“We have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,” she added.
The exchange of Smith appearing to not understand the reporter’s question on the department’s “chain of command” sparked mockery and backlash online Tuesday afternoon.
“This is who is in charge of the police in D.C…” popular conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted of the exchange.
“This is why DEI is a disease,” National Co-Chair of the RNC Youth Advisory Council CJ Pearson posted to X in response to the exchange.
Smith previously served as the department’s first chief equity officer, where she “led the department’s efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion,” according to her biography.
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“WTF! The DC Police Chief doesn’t even know what Chain of Command means,” another conservative X account posted in response.
“Smith previously served as the Police Department’s “Chief Equity Officer,'” the Trump War Room account posted to X.
“MIND BLOWING: D.C. police chief reveals she DOES NOT KNOW what chain of command is. Folks, this is the Washington, D.C. POLICE Chief,” another critic posted.
“NEW: Washington DC Police Chief Pamela A. Smith doesn’t know what the ‘chain of command’ means. … Yikes,” Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg posted.
Fox Digital reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department and Bowser’s office for comment on the exchange and subsequent backlash, but did not immediately receive replies.
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Trump federalized the D.C. police department following a spate of high-profile attacks and killings in the city in recent weeks, including the fatal shooting of a congressional intern in June, the fatal shooting of a pair of Israeli embassy staffers in May, and a brutal attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer earlier in August.
“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people,” he said. “And we’re not going to let it happen anymore. We’re not going to take it.”
Trump declared it was “Liberation Day in D.C.,” adding, “We’re going to take our capital back.”
“We’re taking it back under the authority vested in me as the president of the United States. I’m officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is. And placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. … In addition, I’m deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C. And they’re going to be allowed to do their job properly,” he said Monday.
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