ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith argued Thursday that Democratic figures opposing President Donald Trumps crime crackdown in their cities are motivated by ego and fear of losing power.In an interview on Fox News Channels "The Will Cain Show," Smith told the host that Democratic leaders, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, refuse to work with Trump because it would damage their image to cooperate with the president."When you take those things into account, theres no denying that theres egos that are involved, theres people thats worrying about their power being usurped, theres also people worried about maintaining power because, if any way they come across as cooperative and willing to work with the president, that theyre going to alienate their party," Smith told Cain.GOV. PRITZKER SAYS TRUMP TRYING TO 'MANUFACTURE A CRISIS' AS ADMIN PLANS NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO CHICAGOTrump has signaled his intention to send federal troops into Chicago to address the citys violent crime. In a Truth Social post shared Tuesday, he wrote, "At least 54 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend, 8 people were killed... Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesnt know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Chicago will be safe again, & soon. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"Washington, D.C., has seen a decrease in reported crime in recent weeks after Trump ordered the deployment of the U.S. National Guard and expanded federal law enforcement presence in the city last month.Trumps calls for similar federal intervention into Chicago have sparked pushback from Pritzker and Johnson.CHICAGO MAYOR CALLS TRUMP'S NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT PLAN 'UNCOORDINATED, UNCALLED-FOR AND UNSOUND'The governor has said there is no crime emergency in Chicago and that Trump is "attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families."He also called Trumps idea "unconstitutional" and "un-American."Johnson wrote on X last month, "What the President is proposing would be the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st Century. The City of Chicago does not need a military occupation."Smith argued that while Democratic leaders are protecting their egos, Republicans are also guilty of blindly backing Trumps agenda."But theyre not the only ones guilty of that because weve seen people on the right willing to sign off on anything the president says and does because of the same reasons, so again, its politics across the board," the commentator said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREHowever, Smith said crime and death in Chicago must take priority over political squabbling."But as a Black man speaking to the murders that you highlighted and articulated, thats my primary concern and that should usurp all concerns over all other things when it comes to what were talking about," he told Cain. "People are getting killed in the streets, particularly in the streets of Chicago."Reps for Pritzker and Johnson did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Fox News Digitals Cameron Arcand and Landon Mion contributed to this report.