Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is under fire again after newly resurfaced comments revealed her unusual views on law enforcement, military readiness, and the proper role of federal agencies under President Donald Trump.
Crockett made the remarks during a September appearance on the “Grounded” podcast, but the clip has just resurfaced amid news that the Texas Democrat launched a U.S. Senate campaign on Monday.
The clip went viral this week, drawing intense criticism after Crockett suggested the government had become “hostile towards its people” and argued that agencies like ICE and the U.S. military were being misused.
Asked by host Jon Tester whether it was good or bad to see military vehicles operating in cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago, Crockett didn’t hesitate.
“I think it’s terrible,” she said.
“First of all, you know, I’m like, how is it that we have a government that is hostile towards its people?
“Because that’s what it is.
“I mean, we are in the midst of a hostile government takeover, and it is our government that is, like, bringing the hostility.”
The congresswoman said she would need to “go into legal mode” to explain her accusations against federal agencies, but what followed only fueled more questions.
Crockett: “Law enforcement isn’t to prevent crime”
In one of the most widely shared clips, Crockett insisted Americans don’t understand how police are actually meant to operate.
“I want to be clear that, like, law enforcement isn’t to prevent crime,” she declared.
“Law enforcement solves crime. OK?
“That is what they are supposed to do.
“They are supposed to solve crimes, not necessarily, um, prevent them from happening per se.”
Her assertion runs counter to the stated purpose of most policing agencies, which routinely describe deterrence and crime prevention as core functions.
She then claimed “the average person” doesn’t understand that agencies are trained differently.
“So literally ICE is not trained to go out and do what they’re doing,” she said.
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That claim also contradicts the public record.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations specifically train for “arrest, detention, and removal of aliens,” and the American Immigration Lawyers Association has publicly described ICE agents as “among the most highly trained federal law enforcement officers in the United States.”
Crockett: People who join the military are “trained killers”
Crockett’s comments escalated further when she began describing U.S. service members.
“We are taking those that signed up for the service in whatever capacity, and we are now putting them on the streets and having them with guns.
“They are not trained to deal with civilians in that way.
“That is not what they are trained to do.
“Like, when you sign up for any military, you are a trained killer.
“You are trained for war, not for going and policing our streets. All right?”
Her statement directly contradicts the military’s own policies.
Civilian-interaction training is standard in many U.S. military programs, and the District of Columbia National Guard specifically trained for civilian operations as recently as May 2024, under the Biden administration, noting its long history of supporting local law enforcement in Washington.
Warning about “hostile government takeover”
Crockett also attacked Trump’s foreign policy and military posture, saying she was worried about U.S. “readiness” because the administration was “not doing smart things” with its allies.
She argued that National Guard units and ICE were “being misused” and insisted local police agencies should handle most responsibilities instead.
“Local law enforcement… they are the ones that are trained in investigatory work,” she said.
“They are the ones that are trained on how to testify in trial, how to pull a case together.
“Same thing with, like, your FBI, your DEA, and that kind of stuff.”
Despite her claims, Crockett offered no specific examples of illegal orders from the Trump administration, nor any evidence that the military or ICE had misused their authority.
The resurfaced interview is likely to intensify scrutiny of the Texas Democrat, who has already faced controversy amid her newly launched Senate campaign and her escalating clashes with President Trump and Republican lawmakers.
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