The mayor of Chicago has a message for Donald Trump: stay away.

“Our motto: a city he’ll never sleep in. We don’t want him there,” Rahm Emanuel said on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert.

A prominent Democratic powerbroker, Mr Emanuel served in Congress and then as Barack Obama’s chief of staff before departing the White House and becoming mayor of America’s third-largest city.

Since Mr Trump’s ascension, Mr Emanuel has promoted Chicago’s opposition to the president’s policies, including as a “sanctuary city” that limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

After Mr Trump decided to let lapse a program protecting young immigrants who are in the country illegally, Mr Emanuel declared the city a “Trump-free zone”.

He reiterated that description during his appearance on Mr Colbert’s show and detailed. other initiatives Chicago has taken that clash with the Trump administration. Those include suing the Environmental Protection Agency and embracing measures to limit climate change.

Inside Obama's Chicago machine Show all 4 1 /4 Inside Obama's Chicago machine Inside Obama's Chicago machine Pg-28-campaign2-getty.jpg The Obama campaign has not officially begun, but the re-election headquarters in Chicago is buzzing, with 200 workers on board Getty Images Inside Obama's Chicago machine Pg-29-campaign4-afp.jpg David Axelrod, one of the President's men: A childhood Democrat who sold Robert Kennedy presidential election badges in 1968, Axelrod began a career as a journalist at the Chicago Tribune before moving into politics. He was chief strategist for the 2008 campaign before serving as a senior White House adviser AFP Inside Obama's Chicago machine Pg-28-oabamamen-getty.jpg Jim Messina, one of the President's men: Before joining the Obama White House, Mr Messina was chief of staff to senators Max Baucus of Montana and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota. Now charged with managing the reelection campaign, he showed early political flare in 1980 when he represented Jimmy Carter in a mock election at school Getty Images Inside Obama's Chicago machine Pg-6-obama-ap.jpg The Republican primaries get under way and although the Obama campaign has not officially begun, re-election headquarters in Chicago is buzzing with 200 workers on board AP

“Donald Trump is driving forward looking through the rear-view mirror,” Mr Emanuel said.

The lack of love is mutual. Mr Trump regularly portrays Chicago as an example of failed liberal policies, pointing to its high murder rate.