On Tuesday, President Trump asserted that he could resolve Chicago’s crime issues “fast and permanently.” He urged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to reach out to him after a weekend in which 39 people were shot in Chicago.
Trump’s statement followed his recent claim that he could transform Chicago into one of the safest cities in the U.S. after the violent weekend.
“At least 39 people injured, 4 dead, in Chicago weekend shootings,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Governor Pritzker, I, as President, can fix this. FAST and Permanently.
“D.C., Memphis, New Orleans, all down to record lows, and quickly. CALL ME! President DJT.”
Trump reported four fatalities from the shootings; however, Chicago police reported six deaths, according to WLS.
Chicago has seen over 500 shootings this year, reflecting a 9% increase compared to May 2025, based on police data cited by WTTW.
Police reported that two drive-by shooters in Princeton Park injured 13 people. Initially, 12 injuries were noted, but it was later clarified that a 26-year-old man was also wounded and did not seek medical treatment.
The drive-by occurred around 11 p.m. in Princeton Park during a Juneteenth celebration when individuals in a red SUV opened fire on the crowd before fleeing, according to police.
Police found a 32-year-old woman shot twice in the back and a 44-year-old man grazed by bullets. Both were taken to local hospitals in stable condition.
Other victims included a 17-year-old boy and a 22-year-old woman, each shot in the thigh, and a 32-year-old man shot in the head.
Local alderman Anthony Beale expressed his distress over the violence, describing it as a shattering event for the community.
“In a matter of seconds, an ordinary summer night was shattered by gunfire,” he stated.
“Lives were upended, families were thrown into fear, and an entire community was reminded how quickly violence can change everything. No one should have to wonder if they or someone they love will make it home safely. This is the cruel reality of the mindless menace of gun violence in our city.”
Violence also struck Chicago’s West Side on Saturday, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Aniyhas Jackson, who was shot in the armpit. A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident.
A 21-year-old man was fatally shot on the South Side early Sunday, police reported.
Pritzker, who may run for president in 2028, has rejected Trump’s offer to help.
“This is the president that thought that he could hire an unqualified company to paint the reflecting pool, and then thought that it would just be free of algae. And yet days later, it turned into an algae sea,” Pritzker remarked, criticizing the $14 million Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation.
“And this is the same president that did not know that the Strait of Hormuz could be closed, shuttered essentially, by Iran if he went to war with Iran.
“I don’t think that we should be listening to this president about promises that he makes or that he has any idea how to protect us in the state of Illinois.”
Trump has previously referred to Chicago as a “hellhole” and compared it to a “war zone,” suggesting the National Guard be deployed to address crime.
Last December, the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to send the National Guard to Chicago as part of an effort to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Trump sought to overturn a lower court decision by appealing to the Supreme Court.
His rationale for deploying troops involved a law allowing the president to federalize the National Guard if regular forces cannot enforce the law.
“Thus, at least in this posture, the Government has not carried its burden to show that [the statute in question] permits the President to federalize the Guard in the exercise of inherent authority to protect federal personnel and property in Illinois,” the Supreme Court stated.
Pritzker has emphasized that the U.S. does not require the National Guard to combat crime.
“We’ve been fighting crime. We’ve been trying to prevent crime and it’s been working,” he said in August 2025.
With Post wires.
