Donald Trump On Chicago Gun Violence: ‘Carnage’ Must Stop Or He Will ‘Send In The Feds’

President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday, saying he will “send in the Feds” to Chicago if the city does not control the “carnage” of gun violence. This is the 45th president’s first tweet about shootings in Chicago.

Trump apparently cited a Monday report by Chicago Tribune that said at least 228 people were shot in the city so far this year — up 5.5 percent compared to same time last year — including at least 42 deaths, which was a spike of 23.5 percent for the same period in 2016.

Chicago Police Department spokesman Frank Giancamilli did not agree with the numbers reported by the Tribune and reportedly said there were 182 shootings in the city from Jan. 1 to Jan. 23, "which is exactly flat from last year."

However, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel responded to Trump's tweet, saying federal agencies already help the city.

“There’s a lot the federal government can do,” Emanuel said, citing gun control, use of federal resources to track illegal guns and federal prosecutions, according to Chicago Tribune. “And also, fundamentally, in my view, also help fund additional police officers. ... Over the years the federal government’s stepped back their resources, which we have stepped up. The federal government can be a partner, and to be honest they haven’t been for decades.”

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said he was "more than willing to work" along with federal law enforcement and to "boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago."

Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. tweeted his response to the president's tweet, criticizing it.

Chicago, with a population of 2.7 million, battled more shootings and homicides in 2016 than any other city in the country, according to FBI and Chicago police data. The city also witnessed several protests in 2015 and 2016 over fatal police shootings of blacks.

On Jan. 2, Trump had tweeted along similar lines about the gun situation in Chicago. "If Mayor can't do it he must ask for Federal help!" he tweeted.