Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith is facing sharp criticism and online mockery after appearing to not understand a reporter’s question about the department’s “chain of command” under President Donald Trump’s new federalization order.
The exchange happened during a press conference Tuesday morning, one day after Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploying the National Guard.
The Exchange
“Can you tell us what the chain of command is now?” a reporter asked Smith.
“What does that mean?” the police chief replied.
The reporter clarified: “Well, is it Pam Bondi speaking to the mayor? Is it you? How does this work?”
At that point, Mayor Muriel Bowser stepped in to explain that Attorney General Pam Bondi is acting as Trump’s “proxy” under the federalization order, while the city’s organizational chart and funding processes remain unchanged.
REPORTER: “Do you know what the chain of command is now?”
D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith: “What does that mean?” 🤦♂️
Smith previously served as the Police Department’s “Chief Equity Officer”. pic.twitter.com/CdggV2lnP9
— Trump