A member of the White House press pool publicly thanked President Donald Trump on Monday for the administration’s crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., recounting a prior street assault that she said left her and her family “deeply traumatized.”

Iris Tao, a correspondent for NTD News, an Epoch Times sister outlet, addressed the President during a White House event and described an incident from two years ago in which a masked assailant confronted her “in broad daylight.”

She said the man “pointed a gun in my face,” and ordered her to “hand over my phone, wallet, my laptop, and everything else.”

“When I refused, he used the butt of his handgun to strike me across the face, the cheek — some would say pistol whip — before running away,” Tao said.

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She added that the attack “deeply traumatized” her and members of her family. “Ever since, I never dared to walk the streets of DC at night, ever, and my family was extremely worried,” Tao said.

“So, Mr. President, thank you so much for what you are doing right now.”

She noted she was 23 at the time and feared she might be killed.

A camera in the room recorded Trump’s reaction as he listened to the account of rising crime during her years reporting as a White House correspondent.

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After Tao spoke, Trump thanked her for sharing the story and underscored his administration’s focus on public safety in the capital.

“These are animals who couldn’t care less,” Trump said.

“It’s really amazing that you weren’t shot.”

Tao’s comments came as Trump convened a cabinet meeting where he addressed the federal government’s increased role in D.C.’s public safety operations.

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He rejected criticism that the approach amounts to authoritarianism.

“The line is that I’m a dictator, but I stop crime. So a lot of people say, ‘You know, if that’s the case, I’d rather have a dictator,’” Trump said.

“But I’m not a dictator. I just know how to stop crime.”

In remarks Monday, Trump said the administration would continue exercising authority over most of Washington, D.C.’s security apparatus while aiming to reduce violence in the city.

The change followed actions that struck the Home Rule Act provisions that have traditionally allowed the District to manage its own policing and criminal justice functions.

Trump also said he hoped local leaders would recognize the effects of the federal intervention and said he is weighing whether to deploy National Guard personnel to Chicago, citing persistent gun violence there.

Officials pointed to recent public-safety metrics in the District.

The city has gone without a homicide since Aug. 13, and on Sunday, Vice President J.D. Vance said on “Meet the Press” that D.C. crime has dropped by 35% overall, The Hill reported.

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Tao’s statement stood out from typical exchanges between the press and the administration, drawing attention to accounts from residents and workers who say they have adjusted routines due to crime concerns.

She said the assault occurred “in broad daylight,” described the suspect’s ski mask, and said the encounter kept her from walking at night in the city.

Trump, who has framed the federal intervention as necessary to restore order, reiterated that the administration would maintain its posture in the capital.

He said the response would continue to include federal agencies and coordination across departments as the city’s crime data are evaluated in the weeks ahead.

The President’s comments on National Guard support for other cities came amid broader discussions about federal resources and the threshold for additional deployments.

While no new orders were announced Monday beyond the District’s current framework, Trump said the government would assess conditions and confer with relevant authorities.

The White House did not release new policy documents tied to Monday’s meeting.

Officials cited the recent homicide-free stretch since Aug. 13 and the overall decline Vice President Vance referenced as indications of progress under the current approach.

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Tao concluded her remarks by thanking the President for steps she said have eased safety anxieties for her and her family.

Trump responded that the administration would continue pursuing crime-reduction measures in Washington, D.C., as federal oversight remains in place.

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