Trump Mentioned Chicago Yet Again In Speech To Congress

By aaroncynic in News on Mar 1, 2017 5:20AM

President Donald Trump rarely ever misses a chance to bash Chicago, a frequent target of the man’s ire and often example of a lawless hellscape that conservatives use to push ham-fisted policing policies. His first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night was no exception.

"In Chicago, more than 4,000 people were shot last year alone — and the murder rate so far this year has been even higher. This is not acceptable in our society," said Trump.

Trump’s comments were part of a larger setup about “breaking the cycle of violence” in order to “break the cycle of poverty.” Part of that seemingly includes the creation new office in the Department of Homeland Security, which Trump said he ordered, called the Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement—which honestly sounds like it would serve as the agency's new anti-immigrant propaganda arm.

“We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests,” said Trump.

Trump’s obsession with the city—which once resoundingly refused to serve as one of his campaign stops—is so strong, this was the second time this week he mentioned Chicago. The Sun-Times reports that while speaking to a group of Governors on Monday he asked “what’s going on in Chicago?”

Mayor Rahm Emanuel once again rebuffed the president, telling him to do more than just talk about violence in Chicago. "Because this is so important, I'll always be ready with this list whenever the president asks,” Emanuel said in a statement given to the Chicago Tribune. “The better question, I'd suggest, is whether the president cares enough about violence in our city to do more than talk or tweet about it.”

Trump may put his money where his mouth is though, if one Illinois representative in the House is to be believed. After slamming the president's speech as "little substance" with "lots of threats," Rep. Bobby Rush Tweeted that Trump has said yes to his invitation to visit our city.

Trumps speech was more campaign promises on steroids. Little substance. Lots of threats. I asked him to come to Chicago. He said yes.

— Bobby L. Rush (@RepBobbyRush) March 1, 2017