Is this the same Strike Force The Donald wanted to send but Lori didn't want it?
I don't doubt there are political shenanigans about. Trump did say about sending some force in there previously.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/poli...0200811-3su4njj4b5g5fe5ceggvqesxzm-story.html
After Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she’s ‘quite shocked’ President Trump hadn’t weighed in on Chicago looting, he repeats offer to send federal help
Gregory Pratt
Chicago Tribune |
Aug 11, 2020 at 6:33 PM
Shortly after presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, President Donald Trump again invoked the law and order theme he’s campaigning on to rip Chicago and other big cities.
He repeated Tuesday his previous offer to send in federal troops to help quell local violence in Chicago and elsewhere, and noted that it’s up to mayors and governors to make the request for assistance.
“Together the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have 25,000 police officers, sheriffs and guardsmen available to quell any violence, they can do it very quickly, very easily, if allowed to do their jobs,” Trump said at a news conference. “Again, if allowed to do their jobs. Our police, our law enforcement is incredible, but they have to be allowed to do their jobs.”
In his remarks at an unrelated White House news conference, Trump also criticized New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as leaders in Oregon and Washington state.
Trump, who frequently rips Democratic mayors of big cities after high-profile crimes or protests, had been conspicuously silent about Chicago following the Monday morning downtown looting that rocked the city and embarrassed local leadership.
“I’m offering all available federal support requested to stop the violence and arrest the criminals,” Trump said. “We have to be asked by the governors or the mayors, and we’ll be there very rapidly. It’s ready, willing and able. We’re all ready, willing and able to go these jurisdictions and take care of them. We’ll do them very quickly.”
Earlier Tuesday, Lightfoot said she was “quite shocked” that Trump hadn’t weighed in loudly about the city’s looting.
“It’s a full-time job trying to understand, predict and respond to what the president may be doing in his (way). I don’t have time for that. I need to lead this city,” Lightfoot said. “I need to make sure that our residents are safe. That is my focus, not what the latest tweet is for President Trump.”
She also had preemptively criticized the president on Monday, saying the city doesn’t need “federal troops in Chicago, period, full stop.”
“I’m sure the president will have his way with this incident, but I’m calling upon him to do the things that we do need (such as gun control),” she said.
The mayor frequently criticizes Trump, who is unpopular in Chicago, while the president has made the Democrat-run big cities a frequent political target.
Last month, Trump began sending federal agents with a variety of departments to Chicago as part of Operation Legend — an anti-violence program the mayor said she supports, so long as it’s being supervised locally by U.S. Attorney John Lausch.
But, Lightfoot said she eyes the assistance skeptically and has cast doubt on the sincerity of Trump’s desire to help.
