Lightfoot Calls Trump Aide A 'Karen' As War Of Words Continues

CHICAGO — The ongoing beef between the White House and City Hall became a Twitter war Thursday when Mayor Lori Lightfoot called President Donald Trump's spokeswoman a "Karen," and told her to watch her mouth.

During a Tuesday news conference, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEanany referred to Lightfoot as the "derelict mayor of Chicago" doing a "very poor job of securing her streets," a reference to gun violence that continues to plague the city.

Lightfoot replied on Twitter, "Hey Karen. Watch your mouth." A "Karen" is a pejorative term for a rude, insufferable, middle-age white woman.

On Friday, Lightfoot said the Trump Administration has been trying to score cheap political points by attacking her and other female Democratic mayors to appeal to the president's core supporters.

"This won't be the last time that his flacks try to take me on. But good luck," Lightfoot said. "I'm still here. I'm going to lead this city the best I can. We are going to get the job done to protect the residents of the whether the president steps up."

On Monday, President Trump told reporters he planned to reduce shootings in Chicago and other cities "“even if we have to go in and take over.” He said shootings in Chicago have been worse than war zones in Afghanistan. Last month, Trump sent a letter to Lightfoot and Gov. J.B. Pritzker offering federal help to stem violence. Lightfoot called the offer a political stunt.

On Friday, Lightfoot said if Trump wants to help Chicago's fight against violence he would push for common sense gun laws that would stop the flow of illegal "military-grade" guns to Illinois from other states, including Indiana.

"But he doesn't really want to help. What he wants to do use me and this city, and other cities across the country as punching bags," Lightfoot said. "And I'm not having it. Period."