Is Chicago's Mayor More Concerned About Federal Cops Or Violent Criminals?

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pushed back on Monday against the idea of federal law enforcement playing a larger role in helping staunch the city’s hemorrhaging homicide rate, telling reporters that she has great concerns about President Trump sending in law enforcement from federal agencies and once again arguing that the answer to stopping the city’s violent crime lies in more gun control laws.

On Monday, Trump brought up Chicago to reporters at the White House, referring to the “many, many” shot and killed on the city’s streets over the weekend. At this point in 2019, Chicago had reached 275 homicides, but this year the city has already seen more than 400. Lightfoot doesn’t seem to have any answer other than “it’s not my fault and we need more gun laws,” even as the head of the Chicago Police Department’s union has publicly excoriated Lightfoot and called on the president to bring in reinforcements.

Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, a vocal supporter of Trump, called Lightfoot a “complete failure who is either unwilling or unable to maintain law and order,” but did not say what kind of help he was asking for or whether he wants federal troops to be sent to the city.

It’s not the first time Trump has made disparaging comments about Chicago leaders, and what he says is their inability to control violence. Just last month, Trump sent a letter criticizing Lightfoot and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a “lack of leadership” in stemming gun violence. Lightfoot dismissed Trump’s letter as a “litany of nonsense.”