President Trump
Donald John Trump The Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to defeat ObamaCare Trump says there will be ‘retribution’ for those who disfigure the monuments of the White House task force that tracks coronavirus spikes even when Trump says the virus is ‘disappearing’: MORE report He broke into Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) after a series of violent incidents hit Chicago, accusing the two lawmakers of failing the city.
Trump cited a Chicago Sun-Times article published earlier this month detailing the deaths of 18 people in a 24-hour span, saying the violence was an indication that Pritzker and Lightfoot were not doing their job.
“His lack of leadership on this important issue continues to fail those he has sworn to protect,” he wrote in a letter, a copy of which was published by the White House. “I am concerned that it is another example of their lack of commitment to vulnerable citizens who are victims of this violence and the lack of respect for the men and women of law enforcement.”
“Violence and death, which are disproportionately harming young African Americans, are tragic and unacceptable, especially on such a shocking scale,” he added.
Trump also said he was open to working with Pritzker and Lightfoot to help disadvantaged communities in Chicago, but said establishing “law and order” was a prerequisite.
“If you are interested, I am willing to ask my cabinet members to meet with you and help design a plan to make Chicago safe, as a successful formula has eluded both you and your predecessors.” , wrote. “My administration also appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with you and your colleagues as you develop bipartisan policy recommendations to improve policing and make our big cities safer for everyone.”
“Unfortunately, you continue to put your own political interests ahead of the lives, security and fortune of your own citizens,” he continued. “The people of Chicago deserve better.”
Trump throughout his tenure has cited violence in Chicago as an example of what he says is a failed leadership of Democrats and has repeatedly beaten Pritzker for failing to control violence.
Pritzker and Trump also clashed in a call earlier this month after the governor charged Trump with what he described as “inflammatory” rhetoric from the president following the death of George Floyd.
Trump has repeatedly sought to lean on his message of law and order while defending his handling of the coronavirus and his rhetoric regarding protesters advocating for racial justice, causing his support to slide, according to recent polls.
Pritzker’s office shot at the White House after the letter was released, accusing Trump of trying to distract himself from his wrong answers.
“President Trump is a failure who has once again resorted to a press trick in an attempt to distract himself from his long list of failures, especially his response to the deadly coronavirus and national calls for racial justice,” said the spokesman for Pritzker, Jordan Abudayyeh. Unfortunately, the people of this state and this nation have come to await their insane attempts to politicize the tragedy with their predictable and worn out strategy to distract, distract, distract. The governor supports the mayor in his work to bring about meaningful change. “
Lightfoot’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
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