Topline
President Donald Trump claimed Chicago was facing “unchecked” violence and argued the Illinois state government must call in help from the federal government, in a Truth Social post earlier on Tuesday, echoing threats he made last year before deploying federal troops and immigration agents in major cities like Los Angeles.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have previously pushed back against Trump’s efforts to send federal troops into Chicago.
Getty Images
Key Facts
In an early morning post on Truth Social, the president claimed violence in Chicago was at “record levels” and had “never been worse,” citing a spate of violence reported over the weekend.
Calling the situation “out of control,” Trump said the “city will die” if the Federal Government is not invited in to help by either the Chicago Mayor or Illinois Governor.
“I am awaiting the call,” the president added, while claiming that the state and city can’t do “what I do.”
It’s unclear if Trump wants to deploy the military in Chicago as he did in cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.—despite legal challenges.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have not yet commented on Trump’s remarks.
What Are The Incidents Trump Is Talking About?
In his post, Trump referenced a spate of weekend violence that saw 41 people shot and 3 die between Friday and Sunday. According to local news outlets, 15 of the 41 people were shot in a single incident on Saturday night when a person opened fire into a large crowd as police officers were trying to break it up. One of the 15 shooting victims died. In total, Chicago saw 22 shootings across the city over the weekend. Addressing the mass shooting on X, Pritzker wrote: “Gun violence has no place here — and law enforcement will work around the clock to ensure accountability and keep communities safe.”
Tangent
The president is set to visit the Chicago area later this month to attend the Presidents Cup, a PGA Tour golf event after being invited to serve as the event’s honorary chair. Commenting on Trump’s planned visit, Pritzker, who has feuded with the president for years, said in a statement: “Donald Trump has attacked Chicago and Illinois at every turn of his term…Now, he wants to come here for golf. He is neither wanted here nor needed here. But if he is going to spend time in DuPage County, he can leave the country club and explain to Illinoisans why his tariffs have made groceries, electricity, and everything else too damned expensive.”
Leave a comment