President Donald Trump has been vocal once again, trading barbs with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson late Tuesday as Chicago dealt with another violent weekend. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Pritzker as “incompetent” and remarked that Johnson was “not that good,” referencing the city’s crime stats from that weekend which saw six fatalities and 27 injuries.
Trump suggested that Pritzker should seek his assistance, although that seems unlikely—as the Democratic governor previously called federal intervention a form of overreach that the nation’s founders would have opposed. “A truly fatal weekend in Chicago. Six deaths, 27 crimes are occurring across the city,” Trump posted, expressing his discontent late Tuesday evening.
There’s been a growing rift between Illinois Democratic leaders and Trump regarding crime control strategies in the city. Trump has proposed sending the National Guard to Chicago to tackle violent crime, similar to actions taken in Washington, D.C., just weeks ago, but he’s faced considerable pushback. Pritzker and Johnson have both indicated that the city does not need military presence to manage crime issues.
“Chicagoans don’t want a militarized force occupying our city. We’re against that,” Johnson stated in a press conference on Monday. During the same meeting, Pritzker urged Trump not to visit Chicago, emphasizing that there was “no need” for him to come.
According to the latest data from the Chicago Police Department, the city recorded about 1,000 incidents last week, including nine murders and numerous other violent crimes. While reports show some categories are down compared to last year, there’s still a noticeable 40% increase in overall crime from 2021. Remarkably, Chicago has confiscated more illegal firearms than both Los Angeles and New York City combined.
In March, Chicago was labeled the “national murder capital” for the 13th year straight, tallying 573 murders in 2024, as reported by local media. However, Johnson highlighted at a separate event that he has focused on reducing violent crime during his tenure, touting a 33% drop in homicides and a 38% reduction in gun violence since taking office.
Johnson also noted a “citywide murder clearance rate of 77.4%,” which his office claims is the best result seen in over ten years. The discussion around possibly deploying the National Guard aligns with ongoing military engagements in Washington, where recent operations have reportedly resulted in significantly fewer violent incidents.
