In Orlando, Trump blasts ‘terrible' Chicago crime, but figures are down

ORLANDO, Fla. – President Donald Trump says he's directed his attorney general to "help straighten out the terrible shooting wave" in Chicago.

Trump told officers at the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Orlando on Monday that "the crime spree is a terrible blight" and "there's no reason for what's going on there."

He's encouraging the city to use the controversial "stop and frisk" policing strategy.

Trump says politicians who spread "dangerous anti-police sentiment make life easier for criminals and more dangerous for law-abiding citizens and police." Trump says, "it must stop now."

Chicago police said last week that there have been 102 fewer homicides and nearly 500 fewer shooting victims in the city this year, compared to the first nine months of 2017.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein traveled with Trump on Air Force One, a likely indication that his job is at least temporarily safe.

Rosenstein's job security has been under question since news reports last month that he had discussed possibly secretly recording Trump to expose chaos in the White House and invoking constitutional provisions to get him removed from office.

Trump told reporters Monday that he has a "very good relationship" with Rosenstein. Their meeting two weeks ago was postponed amid the Supreme Court nomination hearings.

The president mentioned Rosenstein during his speech, thanking him for traveling with him.