Chicago’s mayor tore into President Trump Monday for ripping the city as more dangerous than Afghanistan while he addressed a gathering of law enforcement officials at a conference there.
“It’s no surprise that @realDonaldTrump brought his insulting, ignorant buffoonery to Chicago. Luckily, in this city, we know the truth and we will not let anyone — no matter how high the office — denigrate who we are as a people or our status as a welcoming city,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote in one of a series of tweets.
In another, she taunted Trump over the House’s impeachment inquiry, sparked by a whistleblower’s complaint that he was allegedly withholding nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine until the country announced it was investigating Joe Biden and his son Hunter as well as the 2016 presidential election.
“Rather than belittle Chicago’s communities with hateful and dishonest rhetoric, he needs to go back to D.C. and face his fate,” wrote Lightfoot, a 57-year-old African American who was elected in May, replacing Rahm Emanuel.
She belittled Trump for his mocking attacks on Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who boycotted Trump’s speech because he said the president’s words and deeds conflicted with his own values.
“President Trump knows as much about policing as he does running a fair and transparent government. I stand by the Superintendent for living up to the values of this great city and its residents,” Lightfoot said.
Trump slammed Johnson for skipping the event — the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference — and for Chicago’s gun crime epidemic.
“There is one person that’s not here today. I said, ‘Where is he, I want to talk to him.’ In fact, more than anyone else, this person should be here because maybe he could learn something. And that’s the superintendent of Chicago, police chief Eddie Johnson,” the president said.
“A few days ago, Johnson said, quote, ‘The values of the people of Chicago are more important than anything President Trump could have decided.’ I don’t think so. Because it’s a very insulting statement,” Trump told the crowd, before elaborating on his grievance.
“After all I’ve done, and I’ve done more than any other president. Here’s a man that could not bother to show up for a meeting of police chiefs, the most respected people, in his hometown. And with the president of the United States.”
Trump then painted a grim portrait of life in the Windy City, ticking off a number of statistics about murders and shootings.
“All over the world they’re talking about Chicago. Afghanistan is a safe place by comparison,” he claimed.