The incoming 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump turned to Twitter on Monday to lend a hand to Mayor Rahm Emanuel -- a Democratic ally of President Barack Obama -- in his fight against crime in Chicago. "Chicago murder rate is record setting - 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016," accurately pointed out Trump. "If Mayor (Emmanuel) can't do it he must ask for Federal help!" Regardless of what one thinks about Mr. Trump, his policies and his unprecedented use of Twitter, he is unfortunately right about violence and crime in Chicago.

In 2016, the Chicago Tribune’s homicide count recorded 779 homicides, topping the previous year for most homicides, 1996, which saw 796.

Mr. Unconventional

Donald J. Trump is not your average Republican -- and this is only the latest example proving that fact. The average Conservative, say Ted Cruz or even Mr. Trump's choice for Vice President Senator Mike Pence, would most definitely oppose federal intervention into the state of Illinois, let alone it's city Chicago, to help fight crime. While Trump is staunchly Conservative on many issues such as abortion and gun rights, he is a populist and veers to the Left on domestic policy. During the primary against his fellow Republicans and even the general election against Secretary Clinton, Mr.

Trump ran on a platform of populism -- often bashing corporate America, criticizing trade deals such as NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership and calling for infrastructure reform at home before venturing on foreign policy adventures overseas. Remember "America first?" Trump's call for federal intervention from Washington into the affairs of Chicago may earn him political disdain from fellow Republicans, specifically from "states rights" Conservatives.

Chicago is bleeding

Putting one's beliefs on the role of government to the side, it is obvious to both Democrats and Republicans that Chicago is in need of help. With a total of 700 murders and over 4,331 shooting victims in 2016, Chicago recorded more casualties than than Los Angeles and New York combined. A city long associated with crime dating back to the days of the Italian mobster Al Capone, maybe it is the case that Chicago is in need of federal help to build a better future. Whatever the case, something must be done, and now we know that there is a chance that President Trump may intervene from Washington when he assumes the Presidency in 17 days.