White House press secretary Jen Psaki dodged a question about President Biden’s gun violence prevention strategy Monday, saying the rising crime rates in big cities across the country shouldn’t be expected to “turn on a dime.”
During her daily press briefing, Psaki was asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy whether Biden’s “comprehensive strategy” to combat gun crime, first announced June 23, was effective in cities like Chicago, where 73 people were shot over the weekend, 11 of them fatally.
“Does the president think this strategy is working?” Doocy asked.
“Well,” Psaki responded. “I think you and I both know that when there’s been rising crime rates across the country, including in Chicago, for 18 months or more, that unfortunately, it’s not going to turn on a dime.”
The press secretary said Chicago is one of five cities in the country in which the federal government is working with local leaders and police to keep guns off the streets.
