A Republican strategist on Friday defended former President Donald Trump's attacks on Detroit, saying the MAGA leader "was just being honest" — and sarcastically called the city a "utopia" when fellow CNN panelists pushed back.
On Thursday, Trump trashed the city during an event in the city, threatening that if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected, “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit.”
Trump's remarks came during an event at the Detroit Economic Club, adding: "We’re a developing nation too. Just take a look at Detroit." He called the city a “developing area … hell of a lot more than most places in China.”
Responding to the attacks, political analyst Gloria Borger called it "remarkable" that the former president told attendees in Detroit "what a lousy city they had."
"I don't think it was very well received and it's a battleground state," she said. "It's an important city in the state and he's going to alienate a lot of voters there."
She noted Trump did the same with Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ALSO READ: The Purge is real: Inside the GOP's 2024 playbook to disenfranchise voters
Scott Jennings, who served as special assistant to President George W. Bush, disagreed with Borger that his remarks could hurt Trump's chances to win the state — and took multiple swipes at the city as well.
"If you guys want to argue, that the Democrats want to argue this is the model of excellence of local governance, go ahead, but I don't think a lot of people will agree with you," he said with a laugh.
Jennings pointed to the city's crime, schools and population decline as evidence the city has struggled under Democratic leadership.
"This has not been the greatest-run city," he said.
Jennings later added: "What everybody is calling an insult, I think he was just being honest and saying, 'There may be a better path here.' And that's part of his blunt appeal."
Jennings doubled down when a fellow panelist noted crime has fallen in the city and the population is increasing.
"Everything is great in Detroit," Jennings said sarcastically, throwing up his hands and chuckling. "It's great. Utopia."
Watch the clip below or at this link.