Donald Trump (left), JB Pritzker (AP)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday escalated his criticism of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, citing a fresh spike in gun violence in Chicago and suggesting federal intervention may be necessary if local authorities fail to act.It comes after Trump issued threats to deploy federal troops in America’s third-largest city, to bring down crime.Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn’t want to ask me for help. Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren’t capable of doing.”
The statement follows recent federal law enforcement deployments in cities such as Washington, DC, under Trump’s national anti-crime initiative. These surges involve coordination between federal task forces, immigration and customs enforcement (ICE), and local police, aimed at addressing violent crime and repeat offenders.Trump has repeatedly accused Democratic leaders of failing to address crime in major cities, saying his administration is stepping in where local governments have “lost control.” His broader messaging continues to frame the issue as a partisan failure, claiming that Democratic-run cities are unable to maintain law and order, branding them incapable of doing so.The current approach, however, has drawn criticism from city officials and civil rights groups, who argue that the presence of out-of-state federal officers – particularly ICE agents – can undermine community trust, especially in immigrant neighborhoods. In DC, mayor Muriel Bowser has raised concerns over masked agents participating in local enforcement, saying it creates confusion and fear among residents. She went on to say that immigrants in the city are living in terror.Trump has also issued similar warnings to officials in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and other cities with persistent crime rates. While he has not confirmed whether Chicago is next in line for a federal deployment, his remarks suggest it remains under consideration. Governor Pritzker is yet to respond to Trump’s comments. Local law enforcement in Chicago has also not confirmed the data cited by the President.‘People are desperate’: Trump threatens federal takeover of Chicago; blasts governor Pritzker over rising crime
