'I don't care!': GOP strategist slammed for 'absolutely absurd' claim about DC residents

The panel on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip" erupted on Wednesday night after a GOP Strategist claimed he doesn't care what residents of Washington, D.C. think about President Donald Trump federalizing the local police force.

A CNN poll released on Wednesday found that 65% of D.C. residents believe Trump's moves to federalize the police will not reduce crime. Just 20% of survey respondents said they thought the move would reduce crime.

When asked about the data, GOP strategist Scott Jennings said, "I don't care one bit what the residents of DC think!"

"They don't know what's good for them!" Jennings added.

Jennings then claimed that not enough attention is being given to the public safety concerns of people who visit D.C.

"They're obviously safer," Jennings said. "But there's another population that cares about public safety in D.C., and that's people who visit there. We have millions of people who go there, and they deserve to visit a national capital that is not in disgrace and despair."

Jennings' comments didn't sit well with other panelists like Adam Mockler, a political commentator.

"The idea that public policy is not meant to serve the people in D.C. is absolutely absurd when Trump was claiming he was helping the public!" Mockler said.

Mockler then asked Jennings and the other conservative panelists why Republican governors have not deployed their state national guards to address local crime, if Trump's strategy is working so well.

Watch the entire clip below or by clicking here.