Sept. 2 (UPI) — Federal troops are bound to enter Chicago to thwart an epidemic of violence in the Windy City, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
Media had gathered for the president’s announcement regarding moving U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama, but a reporter asked if the president still intends to send troops to Chicago.
“We’re going in,” Trump responded. “I didn’t say when, but we’re going in.”
He cited recent murder and shooting statistics in the Windy City as evidence of the need for federal intervention.
“Two weeks ago, they had six people murdered, and they had 24 people hit by bullets,” Trump explained.
“Last week it was 24 people hit, and seven people died,” Trump continued. “Over the last two days, that was the crown jewel.”
Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, nine people were killed and 52 were wounded in Chicago, including a total of 16 in three separate mass shootings, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Trump called Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker a “terrible governor” who is “very naïve or untruthful” regarding criminal violence in Chicago.
“He’ll say: ‘We don’t want any protection,'” Trump said.
“In the last three weeks, he’s lost almost 20 people killed,” Trump added. “Chicago is a hellhole.”
The president also cited a morning television show that asked people in Chicago about their opinions on federal troop intervention in the city, according to the Chicago Tribune.
He said most of those asked were Black and said the city needs help to make it safe.
“‘We can’t walk outside. We’re petrified,'” Trump said, while describing the comments made.
The president offered to discuss conditions in Chicago with Pritzker and said presidents are obligated to protect the nation.
He called the current National Guard deployments in Washington a “template” for what he wants to do in Chicago and other large cities.
“Washington, D.C., is a safe zone right now,” Trump said. “It’s a safe city.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Saturday signed an executive order calling on the president to end his “threats to deploy the National Guard” to Chicago.
He called the executive order the “Protecting Chicago Initiative,” which directs city officials to use all available resources to stop the deployment.
“I do not take this executive action lightly,” Johnson said when signing the executive order.
“I would’ve preferred to work more collaboratively to pass legislation, but, unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of time.”
He said a troop deployment to Chicago could happen in days and not weeks.
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