Stephen A. Smith says he's not against Trump sending the National Guard to Chicago

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith said he wouldn't have an issue if President Donald Trump sent the National Guard into Chicago. 

“In the city of Chicago, I don’t give a damn what they say, I have no problem with sending in the National Guard," Smith said, according to The Hill newspaper. "They were a problem before [former President] Obama got into office, when he was a junior senator."

Trump sent the National Guard into Washington, D.C. last month in order to crack down on crime and clean up the city. 

The president said on Monday he would be sending the National Guard to Memphis and that Chicago would be next. 

“It’s very important because of the crime that’s going on, not only in Memphis, in many cities,” Trump said, according to CNN. 

Smith said Chicago residents need help, specifically with all the crime in the city. 

I’ve seen Black people come on television, locally and nationally, crying for support, whether it’s the National Guard or whatever it takes," he said. "In other words, the city of Chicago has had ample opportunity to do something about it, and I do think it’s a crisis in that city."