D.C. police chief stumbles over 'chain of command' question in embarrassing gaffe

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith made an awkward gaffe when addressing reporters on Trump's federalization of law enforcement, forcing Mayor Muriel Bowser to step in to clarify.

When asked by a reporter "[d]o you know what the chain of command is now?" Smith responded, incredulously. "What does that mean?" she replied.

The response drew criticisms from pundits online and the Trump War Room account circulated the exchange as an apparent justification of the federal takeover. Smith previously served in a diversity role before assuming control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Bowser subsequently answered the reporter's question, explaining that President Donald Trump had designated Attorney General Pam Bondi as his proxy and that the executive order directed her to request police services through Bowser.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.