Donald Trump: Chicago Could Stop Violence 'In One Week'
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's violence could be stopped in one week, according to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. When pressed for details on how that would be done, Trump said he believed it could be accomplished through tougher police tactics.
Though Trump's appearance on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Monday started with a discussion on the candidate's evolving ideas on immigration reform, the conversation soon delved into violent crime in America, specifically Chicago.
"Did you know that murders in Chicago are up 50 percent this year from last year? And they can't solve it," O'Reilly said. "The State of Illinois, the City of Chicago."
"You know why they can't solve it? Because I don't think they have the right people in charge," Donald Trump interrupted.
When O'Reilly asked Trump how the violence could be stopped, Trump continued. "I know police in Chicago, if they were given the authority to do it, they would get it done."
"How?" O'Reilly asked again.
"By being very much tougher than they are right now. They're right now not tough." Trump said "... When I was in Chicago, I got to meet a couple of very top police. I said, 'How do you stop this, how do you stop this? If you were put in charge... Do you think you could stop this?' He said, 'Mr. Trump, I'd be able to stop it in one week.' And I believed him 100 percent."
In this exchange, O'Reilly tries gamely to get specifics out of Trump in how he'd lower inner city crime. pic.twitter.com/7XafQnuy7Y
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) August 23, 2016
"Did he tell you how he'd be able to stop it," O'Reilly pressed.
"No, he just, he wants to use tough police tactics."
Though Donald Trump did not specify who the top cop he talked to is, he did say that the individual he talked to "is not the Police Chief."
At one point, Donald Trump asserted that he'd sent the name of his anonymous top cop to Chicago officials, advising them to "hire this guy."
When asked if Donald Trump had ever recommended an officer who could help solve the city's violence, the Chicago Police Department sent the following statement: "We've discredited this claim months ago. No one in the senior command at CPD has ever met with Donald Trump or a member of his campaign. Beyond that, the best way to address crime is through a commitment to community policing and a commitment to stronger laws to keep illegal guns and repeat violent offenders off the street."
This mirrors an incident in March, in which Donald Trump canceled a Chicago rally, implying that he was doing so under the recommendation of the Chicago Police Department. CPD proceeded to deny Trump's claims, saying they had never talked to Trump, nor had they told him to pull out.
CBS Chicago has contacted Mayor Emanuel's office regarding Donald Trump's recommendation. The mayor's office has yet to respond.
Donald Trump's comments regarding violence in Chicago start around four minutes and 30 seconds in the video below.