Vice President JD Vance has renewed Donald Trump’s warnings about crime in Washington, D.C.—but in doing so, may have inadvertently, or intentionally, slighted a fellow cabinet member.
Speaking in support of Trump’s push for a federal takeover of the capital, Vance said the district has “some of the worst homicide rates in the world.” He posted a graphic purporting to show 2023 statistics indicating 41 homicides for every 100,000 residents.
“If this fact doesn’t anger you but President Trump’s efforts to fix it do, you might have a brain worm,” Vance added. The phrase “brain worm” immediately drew attention from social media users who noted its possible connection to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In a 2012 deposition, Kennedy disclosed that doctors had told him in 2010 that a dark spot on a brain scan was caused by a dead parasite, which had consumed part of his brain. Kennedy said he did not know for certain how or where he contracted it, though it could have occurred during travel in Southeast Asia.
Some users on X questioned whether Vance’s language was an intentional jab. “Sir, did you just intentionally or unwittingly make a dig at RFK, Jr?” one asked. Neither Vance’s office nor Kennedy’s responded to requests for comment from The Daily Beast.
While Vance’s post suggested an alarming crime picture, more recent statistics from the Metropolitan Police Department point to a downward trend. Washington, D.C., recorded 274 homicides in 2023, but only 187 in 2024—a 32 percent reduction. As of Thursday, there have been 99 homicides this year, compared to 112 by the same date in 2024.
President Trump has repeatedly cited violent crime as justification for considering direct federal control over the city. At a Wednesday press conference, he referenced the alleged beating of former DOGE engineer Edward Coristine earlier this week.
“What a shame, the rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings, and everything else,” Trump said. “This has to be the best-run place in the country, not the worst-run place in the country, and it has so much potential, and we’re going to take care of it.”
Trump promised that safety would be restored. “You’re going to be safe. You’re going to be safe walking down streets. You’re not going to get mugged,” he added.
As for Vance’s “brain worm” remark, whether it was merely a colorful turn of phrase or a deliberate reference to Kennedy remains an open question—one that continues to fuel speculation online.