Governor Pritzker Highlights Chicago’s Safety Amid Crime Concerns

On Monday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker visited some of Chicago’s lower crime areas, aiming to present the city as a safe place. In a video shared on social media, he claimed that Chicago has never been as dreadful as some might suggest.

Governor Pritzker referenced Chicago as a city full of “confusion” but responded directly to President Donald Trump, urging for federal support to help tackle crime issues. He expressed, “We have a lot of people running around, and everyone seems to be having a good time. It doesn’t feel like hell here. I wonder who out there thinks Chicago is so terrible?”

Alongside Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that if Trump were to deploy the National Guard in the city, it would violate constitutional rights. Johnson had previously criticized Trump for spreading inaccurate information about the city’s crime statistics, remarking that deploying the National Guard would actually be harmful to public safety.

Recently, Trump suggested he might “take over” the city in response to the rising violent crime rates, claiming that Chicago has an ineffective leadership. He stated, “Chicago is confused. There’s an incompetent mayor, and it’s not hard to see that the people want help.”

Chicago has faced significant crime challenges, with a marked increase in murders over the last decade. In fact, the city recorded its highest number of homicides in 25 years, peaking with 797 in 2021. As of August 25, 2025, there had been 262 murders, which is markedly lower than in previous years.

The first half of 2025 showed a reduction in total violent crime by 22% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Washington, D.C., has managed crime statistics by reclassifying some felonies as misdemeanors. Interestingly, D.C. ranked fourth highest in homicide rates in the nation last year.