Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel said Sunday that President Trump could help the Windy City if he sent National Guard troops into high-crime areas, but added that the Republican commander-in-chief is not really interested in combating crime.
Mr. Trump has suggested that he could deploy the National Guard to Chicago, following his deployment in the District of Columbia.
“Is he going to try to put National Guard around Michigan Avenue or downtown, or is it going to go into Englewood or other parts of the city that do have a crime problem and do have to be approached?” Mr. Emanuel, a Democrat, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “My guess is, when you look at what he did in DC, he’s not going to actually deal with crime.”
“This is an attempt to deal with cities that are welcoming, cities known as sanctuary cities, and deal with immigration,” he said. “This will not be about fighting crime.”
Mr. Emanuel, who served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under President Joseph R. Biden, said the federal government could help cities combat crime by leveraging technology that helps prevent carjacking, prosecuting gang members, and focusing on gun-related crimes.
“Partner with us,” Mr. Emanuel said. “Don’t try to come in and act like we can be an occupied city.”
Mr. Trump angered Democratic leaders in California after he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to protests against immigration enforcement operations.
He followed that up this month by calling the National Guard to the nation’s capital, sparking blowback from Democrats who accused him of manufacturing a crisis in a town where local officials say violent crime last year hit a 30-year low.
Mr. Trump also has an eye on Chicago.
“We’ll straighten that one out, probably next, that will be our next one after this,” Mr. Trump told reporters last week in the Oval Office. “I think Chicago will be our next, and then we’ll help with New York.”
Mr. Emanuel, a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, said Mr. Trump should consider addressing issues in his administration before characterizing Chicago as a “mess.”
“Compared to a White House that uses Signal chat to do national security, it’s not a mess,” he said.
