"Chicago will soon be safe again. I will quickly and decisively deal with the crime problem, just like I did in the capital," former US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on 2/9, referring to his decision to deploy the National Guard and federal law enforcement to Washington last month.
He called Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, the "worst and most dangerous place in the world," citing figures showing that 54 people were shot in Chicago last weekend and comparable figures for the two preceding weeks.
Trump also suggested that Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, really needs help from the federal government to crack down on crime, "but he just doesn't realize he needs help."
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrest a suspect in Washington on 30/8. Photo: AFP |
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrest a suspect in Washington on 30/8. Photo: AFP
Trump and Pritzker have repeatedly criticized each other over the prospect of the White House ordering federal forces to Chicago. Trump accused the Illinois state and Chicago city governments of being unable to control crime. Chicago recorded 573 murders in 2024, significantly higher than the 377 in New York and 268 in Los Angeles.
Governor Pritzker acknowledged that he needs more federal support but proposed that the US government focus on increasing gun investigations and seizures, and coordinating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to apprehend criminals.
"We would welcome such measures, but those are not in their plans," he said.
Pritzker warned that he is prepared to sue the federal government if troops are deployed to Chicago, criticizing the idea as "a military takeover."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also opposed the idea of sending the National Guard to the city, urging the federal government to invest in Chicago rather than deploy troops.
Since June, Trump has repeatedly deployed thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles and then to Washington to quell unrest, tighten the crackdown on undocumented immigrants, and reduce crime rates. Trump claimed these measures helped reduce violent crime by 45% and carjackings by 87% in the capital.
Thanh Danh (AFP, NY Post)
