“Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough admitted that at least one of his “very liberal” friends had voiced support for President Donald Trump’s move to federalize law enforcement in Washington, D.C., saying during Tuesday morning’s broadcast that his friend was deeply concerned about the rampant crime in the city.

Scarborough read a text sent to him by the friend — whose name he did not reveal — less than 24 hours after Trump announced that he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and declaring a public emergency — a move that allowed him to bring the D.C. Police Department under the control of the Justice Department and DEA Administrator Terry Cole.

WATCH:

Joe Scarborough reads a text from a “very liberal” friend who lives in D.C.:

“I’m not totally opposed to Trump’s National Guard move in D.C… crime remains rampant. I’ve had too many friends carjacked, shot at. None of us will walk more than 3 blocks after 8 P.M.” pic.twitter.com/LSPLCJj671

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 12, 2025

“I want to read you a text from a — someone who — I won’t say their name, but they’re — we’ll just say that they’re very liberal,” Scarborough began. “And he says, ‘This may sound controversial, but I’m not totally opposed to Trump’s National Guard move in D.C. I know he’s doing it for politics, but crime remains rampant. I’ve had too many friends carjacked, shot at. None of us will walk more than 3 blocks after 8 p.m. Thirteen-year-olds are committing many of these crimes, quite a change from a decade ago when things were much calmer.'”

Scarborough, a former Republican Rep. from Florida, went on to contrast his own experience living in Washington, D.C., before the city cracked down on crime.

“Well, that actually sounds like the D.C. that I lived in when I lived a block behind the Supreme Court,” he said. “And, you know, every three days, somebody — one of my neighbors was getting held up at gunpoint. I mean, there has been a crime problem in D.C.”

Democrats writ large have voiced their opposition to Trump’s move, claiming that violent crime in the District is at a 30-year low — but as many have pointed out, the data may have been manipulated to downplay the crime rates.

In July 2025, DC police commander suspended for downgrading shootings, stabbings & carjackings to lesser offenses to make crime stats look better.

They’re not fixing crime, they’re cooking the books. pic.twitter.com/HRc3OQktnS

— Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) August 11, 2025

Two more military academies agreed to permanently end race-based admissions, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

In a new settlement, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Air Force Academy will abandon DEI in favor of merit, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. The settlement will lead to the dismissal of two lawsuits against the academies brought by the group Students for Fair Admissions.

“This Department is committed to eliminating DEI practices throughout the federal government,” Bondi said. “We are proud to partner with the Department of Defense to permanently end race-based admissions at West Point and the Air Force Academy — admission to these prestigious military institutions should be based exclusively on merit.”

Students for Fair Admission, the group whose suit led to the end of affirmative action at universities across the country, argued that race-based admissions policies at the military academies violated the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.

The terms of agreement in the settlement stipulate that merit will be the only factor leading to admission at either West Point or the Air Force Academy.

“America is the land of equal opportunity, in spirit and in law,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Today’s agreement ensures that our future military leaders will carry on the greatness that is born of opportunity, effort, and a level playing field.”

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon also praised the settlement.

“Congrats to our [DOJ Civil] Division for their hard work in restoring merit-based admissions to some of our top military academies!” she posted on X.

In June, a similar settlement was announced between Students for Fair Admissions and the U.S. Naval Academy.

That came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 27 that said that no one within the military should be given any advantage based on gender or race.

“Unfortunately, in recent years civilian and uniformed leadership alike have implemented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs and their attendant race and sex preferences within the Armed Forces,” Trump wrote in an executive order. “These actions undermine leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, thereby eroding lethality and force readiness.  They also violate Americans’ consciences by engaging in invidious race and sex discrimination.”