Jesse Watters and Mike Nellis Clash in Heated Fox News Debate

An interview between Fox News host Jesse Watters and Democrat strategist Mike Nellis escalated into a heated exchange on the evening of October 24, 2023. The discussion, which aired on the program Jesse Watters Primetime, centered on President Donald Trump’s recent threats to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, mirroring actions he took in Washington D.C. earlier this year.

Nellis, who previously served as an adviser on Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign and founded the group White Dudes for Harris, attempted to explain his perspective on Trump’s focus on crime in cities governed by Democrats. As a resident of Chicago, Nellis pointed out that Trump had lost the city by an overwhelming margin, stating, “Chicago has had the chance to vote for Donald Trump three times and he lost by 80% each of the three times he was on the ballot.”

The conversation took a contentious turn when Nellis argued that Trump’s efforts would be better directed towards issues in Republican-led states. He emphasized that Trump should address problems such as high crime rates in cities like Jackson and Birmingham, and educational shortcomings in states like Oklahoma and Arkansas, which rank poorly in various metrics.

Watters interrupted Nellis, asserting that Chicago’s size and issues warranted Trump’s attention. He stated, “Chicago’s a little bigger than Baton Rouge, Mike. You live in Chicago, you should care!” Watters criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for declining additional police support, arguing that Johnson’s focus on housing rather than security was misguided.

In response, Nellis calmly expressed concern for public safety, arguing, “I’m not gonna feel safe in my city if, when I take my son to school, I have to drive by a tank.” Watters dismissed this sentiment, further escalating the exchange.

Following the interview, Nellis shared his thoughts on social media, stating, “Seems I triggered @JesseBWatters a bit tonight,” and reiterated his position that Trump should focus on challenges in Republican areas rather than Chicago. He remarked, “I told Donald Trump to stay the f— out of Chicago and focus on the emergencies in Republican cities and states, and Jesse Watters did not like it.”

The tension during the interview highlights the ongoing debate over crime management in U.S. cities, particularly those with Democratic leadership. While Trump claims his actions are motivated by a desire to reduce crime, an analysis by Axios using FBI data indicates that the majority of cities with the highest murder rates are located in red states, including St. Louis and Memphis.

This exchange serves as a microcosm of the larger political discourse surrounding law enforcement, public safety, and the responsibilities of leadership in addressing crime across the United States.