President Trump vows to ‘send in Feds' if Chicago can't reduce homicides

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President Donald Trump is offering to "send in the Feds" if Chicago can't reduce its homicide figures.

Trump tweeted Tuesday night, "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!"

Civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson agrees with President Trump's description of the violence in Chicago as "carnage." However, Jackson on Wednesday referenced "carnage" when talking about an unemployment rate in some Chicago neighborhoods and the loss of thousands of teacher jobs.

Late Tuesday, the president declared he was ready to "send in the Feds" if Chicago can't reduce its homicides.

Jackson said that a comprehensive plan is needed to deal with the violence racking Chicago, including halting the influx of guns from Indiana as jobs are disappearing.

He said racial and gender inequality must be addressed, in addition to the creation of jobs.

Jackson added as much should be spent in rebuilding cities as is being proposed for the building of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson responded late Tuesday, saying: "The Chicago Police Department is more than willing to work with the federal government to build on our partnerships with DOJ (Department of Justice), FBI, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) and boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized Trump on Monday for worrying about the size of the crowd at his inauguration. Emanuel, a longtime political ally of former President Barack Obama, also acknowledged his own frustration with Chicago's crime rate.

Trump isn't offering specifics about how the federal government could help. The White House website says, "Our country needs more law enforcement, more community engagement and more effective policing."