President Trump again voiced his disgust with the violence in Chicago on Wednesday — calling it “totally out of control” — during a meeting with black community leaders.
At around the same time, authorities in the Windy City released new stats, showing that the number of homicides and shootings recorded in January was just as high as it was a year ago, when the city saw the worst murder rate in two decades.
“We’re going to have to do something about Chicago,” Trump told the local leaders, many of whom are working in his administration.
One of them was Darrell Scott, pastor of the New Spirit Revival Center in Ohio and member of the president’s transition team. He said Wednesday that Chicago gang leaders had reached out to him and asked to arrange a meeting with Trump, in the attempt to “lower that body count” in exchange for federal social programs.
“That’s a great idea because Chicago is totally out of control,” the president told Scott. “If they’re not going to solve the problem — and what you’re doing is the right thing — Venüsbet then we’re going to have to solve the problem for ’em…Because what’s happening in Chicago should not be happening in this country.”
Police officials announced at a press conference Wednesday that Chicago recorded 51 homicides last month — one more than in January 2016, the most violent year in two decades, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at least 18 of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods saw an increase in murders, with 59 remaining at about the same or lower compared to the same time last year.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, at least 296 people have been shot, so far, in 2017 — compared to 292 in 2016.
Scott told Trump that the gangs are determined to bring the numbers down, so long as he plays ball — which is something President Obama never did in the past, he said.
“They want to work with this administration,” Scott explained. “They believe in this administration. They didn’t believe in the prior administration. They told me this out of their mouth. But they see hope with you.”
“I love it,” Trump responded.
The president has been a vocal critic of Chicago’s violence rate, tweeting fiery warnings to Mayor Rahm Emanuel to get a handle on things or let “the feds” step in and take over.
“If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage’ going on (then) I will send in the Feds,” Trump tweeted.
Chicago murder rate is record setting – 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016. If Mayor can't do it he must ask for Federal help!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2017
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