President Trump announced on Friday morning that he has instructed federal officials to help local and state officials in Chicago who are dealing with higher-than-normal rates of violence.

"Crime and killings in Chicago have reached such epidemic proportions that I am sending in Federal help. 1714 shootings in Chicago this year!" Trump tweeted.

Crime and killings in Chicago have reached such epidemic proportions that I am sending in Federal help. 1714 shootings in Chicago this year! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 30, 2017

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday that 20 agents from the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were sent to Chicago to help "hunt down gun traffickers."

The move comes a week and a half after President Trump said he would take federal action if the city did not combat violence that was continuing its upward trajectory in 2017. "If Chicago doesn't fix the horrible 'carnage' going on, 228 shootings in 2017 with 42 killings (up 24% from 2016), I will send in the Feds!" Trump tweeted on Jan. 24.