Trump tallied up another tweet in response to the ongoing violence in Chicago on Jan. 24: “If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible ‘carnage’ going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings [up 24% from 2016], I will send in the Feds.” 

In a Feb. 1 meeting with members of the African-American community in Washington D.C., Trump reiterated his threat by saying if Chicago officials don’t take steps to quell the violence, “we’re going to solve the problem for them.” 

If Trump is referring to bringing the National Guard to Chicago, the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 prohibits the federal government from deploying troops to deal with local issues. However, Trump does have leeway after Congress revised the law in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina hit, allowing the National Guard to help restore order when local and national government were unable.

Despite this flexibility, Trump seemingly has no idea what “sending in the Feds” to Chicago really means and how it could affect the city. The results of bringing in the National Guard, whose duties could include patrolling the streets and setting mandatory curfews among others, would result in even more “carnage.” 

The only people who truly know the struggles of the South Side are those who live there. The Chicago Police Department and the community have a long, strained relationship, and bringing in additional armed forces would shatter any progress. 

According to a Jan. 26 Fox 32 article, Rep. Robin Kelly of the South Side 2nd Congressional District invited Trump to tour the most violent streets on the South Side to find out whether he was serious about helping Chicago. Trump responded to invitations to meet Chicago “gang leaders” during his Feb. 1 Washington D.C. meeting saying, “It’s a great idea.” 

Trump was reportedly scheduled to visit Chicago the first week of December 2016, but the trip was canceled with no explanation, according to a Dec. 1, 2016 Chicago Tribune article. The reason may have to do with the response Trump received when a planned speech during his campaign turned awry March 11, 2016. Trump never took stage after protesters and supporters clashed and violence erupted. This proves Trump not only has no real idea of what life in Chicago is really like, but he does not care enough to try to find out. Instead, Trump has chosen expediency once again. 

Trump began talking about the violence in Chicago in an Aug. 20, 2013 tweet reading, “Chicago is a shooting disaster—they should immediately go to STOP AND FRISK. They have no choice, hundreds of lives would be saved.” Trump brought up the police tactic, which was ruled unconstitutional when it devolved into a form of racial profiling in New York, once again during a Sept. 27, 2016 presidential debate with Hillary Clinton. 

Trump needs to stop coming up with brutish, unfounded ideas that will do nothing but create a vicious cycle of violence between communities and police. 

Financial aid is needed to fund job programs and support the people who are trying to help eradicate gun violence in South Side communities, like teachers. Cutting off federal funds to programs that help community members, including art and cultural programs in schools, destroys opportunities for better lives and city progression.