Published 12:03 IST, October 29th 2019
Donald Trump condemns Chicago, says 'Afghanistan safe by comparison'
The US President, Donald Trump, condemned Chicago on October 28 and said that 'Afghanistan is safe by comparison' and also calls the city an 'embarrassment'.
United States President Donald Trump visited Chicago for the first time after taking over the office to speak at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Convocation on October 28 where he condemns the city saying, 'Afghanistan is safe by comparison'. While pointing out the escalating number of crimes in the city, President Trump also said that Chicago is 'embarrassing to us as a nation'. The US leader further questioned the absence of superintendent of the Chicago Police, Eddie Johnson who decided to boycott the event.
President Trump said, “It’s embarrassing to us as a nation. All over the world, they’re talking about Chicago. Afghanistan is a safe place by comparison, it’s true”.
Trump lashes out at Chicago Police superintendent
President Trump also believes that Chicago and the terrible condition of law and order in Chicago are being discussed worldwide and then compared it to the war-torn country, Afghanistan. US and Afghanistan have been in war for nearly 11 years. The US leader also said that Johnson was the one person with whom he wanted to discuss the present scenario of the city more than anybody else. Furthermore, Donald Trump said that he should've been present there in order to 'learn something'. Earlier also President Trump had questioned and criticized the crime problems in Chicago and its status as a sanctuary city which is one of the scores cities around the US that refuse to work with the federal authorities to round up people who are living in the country illegally.
“There is one person who is not here today,” Trump told a friendly audience at a conference of police chiefs. “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 the Chicago Police, Eddie Johnson”.
Officials in solidarity with Johnson
Reportedly, the Democratic mayor, Lori Lightfoot and Illinois' Democratic governor, J.B. Pritzker stood by Johnson's decision of not attending the event and had also announced the same few days prior to it. Pritzker called the city as the land of Lincoln and when people visit the state of Illinois, they have to respect all the people who reside in the state. Furthermore, Lightfoot not only refused to meet with the US President, but she also took on Twitter to say that Chicago and its police department shall not be taught how to perform their duty by someone 'who puts children in cages'.
(With AP inputs)
Updated 12:43 IST, October 29th 2019