MSNBC Analyst Criticizes Trump’s DC Crackdown Despite Admitting to Facing Repeated Robberies Herself

MSNBC analyst Ashley Parker, who has previously acknowledged being robbed multiple times while living in Washington, D.C., is drawing attention after co-authoring an article in The Atlantic criticizing President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, as reported by The Western Journal.

In the article, published Sunday, Parker claimed that the President is using D.C. as a “test case” for deploying troops nationwide, describing it as part of an effort to “condition” Americans to accept authoritarian measures.

She argued that the Guard’s presence resembled a “paramilitary police force.”

Parker wrote that the deployment had an “absurdist sheen,” referring to the troops’ duties such as “beautification” projects and using settings like a Krispy Kreme near Dupont Circle as examples. She likened the situation to a scene from the political satire television series Veep.

Her criticism comes after she publicly complained on social media in June about repeated robberies she had experienced while living in the city.

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The Atlantic article noted that some residents believe the Guard’s presence has not significantly changed conditions in D.C., comparing the troops to Boy Scouts “eager to please.”

Parker emphasized that many residents she interviewed were either frustrated or fearful of the military presence.

Despite her overall criticism, Parker did acknowledge some improvements. She pointed out that Mayor Muriel Bowser admitted to a decline in crime following the Guard’s deployment.

She also included remarks from residents who appreciated improvements around Union Station, including reduced marijuana odor and fewer incidents involving fare evasion on public transit.

Still, Parker concluded that even residents who welcomed the troops did so reluctantly, suggesting that their support was driven by frustration with crime rather than satisfaction with the solution.

“So fed up with crime and quality-of-life issues that they felt relieved that someone was finally doing something, anything to help,” she wrote.

The Guard’s deployment in Washington, D.C., was part of President Trump’s broader effort to address rising crime, drug activity, and public safety issues in the capital.

The decision prompted criticism from local officials and media commentators, but also support from residents who said conditions had improved.

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