Trump: Seattle Only Dispersed CHOP After I Threatened to Send in Feds

In an interview with Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he gave Seattle leaders very little credit for finally taking back the downtown area formerly known as the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP). Trump said that Mayor Jenny Durkan only took action against the socialists and agitators taking up residence in the East Precinct once it became clear that, as president, he was ready to send in federal officers to take back the area by force.

“We were going in, we were going in very soon,” Trump said. “We let them know that and all of a sudden, they didn’t want that. So they went in before we got there, but we were going in very shortly, very soon, and we would’ve taken the ‘CHOP’ back very easily, but they went in, and frankly, the people just gave up. They were tired. They had it for a long period of time.

“We were all set to go into Seattle,” he said. “Frankly, I looked forward to it.”

Not only did Mayor Durkan wait until Trump forced her hand, she waited until two people had been shot and killed inside the zone before finally giving the Seattle Police Department the go-ahead to take back that section of the city.

In an interview with KING 5 in Seattle this week, Durkan said that she was sorry over the bloodshed.

“I deeply, deeply regret the loss of life in and around Capitol Hill,” said Durkan.

The mayor, who has come under intense criticism for essentially abandoning a police precinct, a public park, and a large swatch of downtown to the protesters, said that she’s open to cutting money from the police budget in favor of alternative programs. However, when asked about a group that told the city council that they want to slash the law enforcement budget by 50%, Durkan was less enthusiastic.

“Target numbers themselves are irresponsible if you’re not looking at the functions and what the police should be doing versus what perhaps other people can and should be doing,” Durkan said, noting that a cut that large would mean eliminating the police force altogether.

Uh, yeah. You’re only now getting that? What did you think these socialists wanted?

“I don’t believe there’s any community in Seattle, that as a whole wants to abolish police services for the rest of 2020,” continued Durkan.

Well, you’re wrong about that. There’s one community that does – the one you allowed to fester for weeks in the downtown area. It’s nice that you’re finally coming to your senses about the ludicrous demands that these people are making, but how can Seattle residents and business owners ever trust you again?