“Chicago will soon be safe again. I will take swift action to eliminate the crime problem, just like I did in the capital,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on September 2, referencing his decision to deploy National Guard troops and federal law enforcement in Washington last month.
He described Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, as “the worst and most dangerous place in the world,” citing statistics showing that 54 people were shot in the city over the past weekend, with similar figures from the previous two weeks.
Trump also suggested that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, truly needs federal help to combat crime, “he just doesn’t realize it yet.” Trump and Governor Pritzker have clashed repeatedly over the prospect of the White House sending federal troops to Chicago. Trump has accused both the state and city of failing to control crime. Chicago recorded 573 murders in 2024, significantly higher than New York’s 377 and Los Angeles’ 268.
Governor Pritzker acknowledged the need for additional federal support but proposed that the U.S. government focus on strengthening investigations, seizing firearms, and coordinating with the FBI to apprehend criminals.
“We would welcome such measures, but they aren’t part of their plan,” he said.
Pritzker also warned that he would be ready to sue the federal government if soldiers are deployed to Chicago, calling the idea “a military takeover.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also opposed the National Guard deployment, urging the federal government to invest in the city instead of sending in the military.
Since June, Trump has repeatedly sent thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to address riots, crackdown on illegal immigration, and reduce crime rates. Trump claims that these measures led to a 45% reduction in violent crime and an 87% decrease in carjackings in the capital.