President Donald Trump said Chicago is the next city he’s targeting to “straighten out” after he’s done with the District of Columbia.
“When we’re ready, we’ll go in and we’ll straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C. Chicago’s very dangerous,” Trump told reporters Friday afternoon. “I built great stuff there. I have the most beautiful building in Chicago, I think. But I hate to see what’s happened to Chicago.”
Trump has long criticized Washington, alleging high crime rates and also expressing unhappiness with the capital’s homeless population. Earlier this month, he deployed the National Guard and federalized Washington’s police force.
The president suggested that D.C., and later Chicago, would only be the beginning — and claimed that Democratic leaders from big cities were soliciting his help.
“Now, you look at what the Democrats have done to San Francisco. They’ve destroyed it. I own a big chunk of the Bank of America building in San Francisco, and it’s just different. We can clean that up, too,” Trump said. “We’ve already had calls from other cities, quiet calls, calls from Democrats. ‘We’d love you to come here’ because they’ve lost control.”
For now, though, Trump’s focus remains on the nation’s capital. He said he wants Congress to pass money for beautification. Asked by a reporter about the $2 billion he suggested earlier Friday “to help clean up D.C.,” Trump walked back the specific figure but said he was interested in getting money to the city via Congress.
“I’ve spoken to Mike Johnson. I’ve spoken to John Thune, the Senate, and I think it’s going to be very easy to get,” Trump said of the Republican leaders. “It’s going to be not a lot of money. I wouldn’t even know where to spend the number you mentioned, but it’s going to be money to beautify the city,” he said.
The offices of Johnson and Thune did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Although Trump said there would be “no problem getting that money,” Congress has previously declined to give D.C. funds. In May, Congress set up D.C. for a $1 billion budget shortfall, which House Speaker Mike Johnson said at the time would be rectified “as quickly as possible.” It still hasn’t.
The president didn’t set an end date for when the federal takeover of Washington would end, but he said he won’t be limited by the 30-day limit set by law. After that point, Congress must approve continued federal intervention.
Trump said that wouldn’t count if he declared a national emergency.
“If I think we’re in great shape here, that’s one thing. But if I don’t, I’m going to just say it’s a national emergency,” he said. “And if I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want.”
Trump qualified that he felt it was less likely he would take that step, though: “If I have to, I’ll declare a national emergency, which I don’t think I’ll have to do.”
When asked by a reporter if he would be open to expanding concealed carry authorization from other states to the District, Trump didn’t say no.
“Very simply, people have to be able to protect themselves, especially like in Washington,” he said. “You walk down the street, a guy comes up and slugs you. He’s got a pistol in his hand. You can be tough, you can be in great shape. You can be a powerful person, or you can be a guy that weighs 100 pounds with a gun in your hand. And I’ll bet on the guy with a gun 100% of the time, right?”