Trump Promises to Eradicate Chicago's Crime Wave 'Fast and Permanently' After 39 Shot

President Trump declared he could eliminate Chicago's crime epidemic "fast and permanently" after a shocking weekend where 39 individuals were shot, including four who died. He urged Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to reach out to him for assistance.

Just two days prior, Trump boasted he could transform the Windy City into one of the safest places in America amidst the chaos of gun violence.

“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.”

He pointed to other cities like D.C., Memphis, and New Orleans, claiming they have seen crime rates plummet under his leadership. “CALL ME! President DJT,” he added.

While Trump stated four fatalities occurred, Chicago police reported the death toll at six, according to WLS.

This year alone, over 500 people have been shot in Chicago, a staggering 9% increase compared to May 2025, based on police data released last month and cited by WTTW.

In a separate incident, two drive-by shooters opened fire in Princeton Park, injuring 13 people. Initially reported as 12 injuries, police later confirmed a 26-year-old man was also wounded but refused medical treatment.

The shooting erupted just after 11 p.m. during a Juneteenth celebration when assailants in a red SUV targeted the crowd before fleeing the scene.

Among the injured were a 32-year-old woman shot twice in the back and a 44-year-old man grazed by four bullets. Both were transported 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, along with a 32-year-old man who sustained a head injury.

Local alderman Anthony Beale expressed his devastation over the senseless violence. He lamented how quickly an ordinary summer night turned into chaos.

“Lives were upended, families were thrown into fear, and an entire community was reminded how quickly violence can change everything,” Beale stated.

Violence also erupted on Chicago’s West Side Saturday, resulting in the death of Aniyhas Jackson, 18, who was shot in the armpit. A 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident.

Additionally, a 21-year-old man was killed after being shot on the South Side early Sunday morning.

Pritzker, eyeing a potential run for the presidency in 2028, dismissed Trump’s offer for help.

He mocked Trump’s past failures, referencing the president’s attempt to hire an unqualified company for a $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that resulted in an algae crisis.

Pritzker also ridiculed Trump’s ignorance regarding international affairs, stating, “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 labeled Chicago a “hellhole” and compared it to a “war zone,” even threatening to deploy the National Guard to combat crime.

In December of last year, the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to send the National Guard to Chicago to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The president sought intervention from the highest court after lower courts ruled against him.

His justification for deploying troops relied on a law allowing presidential control over the National Guard when regular forces are insufficient to enforce laws.

The Supreme Court concluded that the government failed to demonstrate that the statute permitted federalizing the Guard for protecting federal personnel and property in Illinois.

Pritzker has consistently maintained that the National Guard is unnecessary for crime control efforts. “We’ve been fighting crime. We’ve been trying to prevent crime and it’s been working,” he asserted in August 2025.