Stressing Chicago "desperately needs help" to tackle crime, President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on plans to deploy the National Guard to quell violence in the city - but stopped short of announcing when such a crackdown would begin.

Both Chicago and Illinois leaders have balked at any suggestion of a federal deployment, insisting such an action would be unlawful -- and that no federal intervention is needed.

"There is no emergency in the state of Illinois that requires the use of the National Guard," Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said at a press conference on Monday alongside Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Father Michael Pfleger and other leaders.

Pritzker and Johnson, who urged Trump not to depl

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