BREAKING: Trump to send hundreds of federal agents to Chicago

He will be enforcing the laws of public order that these mayors have allowed to go unheeded in their cities.

Speaking today at the White House, Trump announced that this is part of Operation Legend, which has thus far been deployed in Kansas City, Missouri.

In advocating for his plan, Trump said that "this rampage of violence shocks the conscience of our nation and we will not stand by and watch it happen." He said that "No mother should ever have to cradle her dead child in her arms simply because politicians refused to do what is necessary to secure their neighborhood & secure their city."

He will be sending hundreds of law enforcement officers to Chicago to "help drive down violent crime."

For her part, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that "under no circumstances will I allow Donald Trump's troops to come to Chicago and terrorize our residents."

Attorney General Barr said that "We are rolling out Operation Legend initially in three cities – Kansas City, Chicago and Albuquerque. We will be adding cities in the weeks ahead.”

Barr went on to say that the "murder rate in Chicago is up 48 percent over last year. In New York City, where the mayor has agreed to strip $1 billion from the police department, the murder rate is up 25 percent. Murder is up 42 percent in New Orleans. In Kansas City, there have already been 100 homicides this year, a 40 percent increase from the same time last year."

Chicago is experiencing a massive crime wave, as are so many major US cities, including Kansas City, Portland, Seattle, New Orleans, New York, and others.

The full remarks can be seen here.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.