Chicago Shootings Leave Seven Dead; Trump Renews Military Intervention Call

Chicago experienced a violent weekend, with at least seven people killed and dozens injured in multiple shootings since Friday. The surge in violence has reignited calls for federal intervention, notably from former President Donald Trump.

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Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!

Trump took to social media platform Truth Social to question why Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had not requested his assistance. Trump asserted he could transform Chicago into one of the safest cities in the U.S. within a year, referencing a perceived improvement in Washington D.C. under his administration. However, a study by the Niskanen Center, a nonpartisan think tank, found that the National Guard's presence had minimal impact on violent crime in Washington D.C.

Governor Pritzker has consistently rejected Trump's proposals for federalizing National Guard members in Illinois, even suing to block a federal deployment last year. A representative for Pritzker did not respond to requests for comment on Trump's latest remarks.

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D.C. went from one of the worst, to one of the safest cities in the U.S.

Official police data presents a more nuanced picture. While there has been a slight increase in shooting incidents compared to the first half of last year, overall violent crime rates in Chicago have generally declined over the past few years, aligning with national trends. The weekend's violence included a shooting on Friday evening where an SUV pulled up and two individuals opened fire on a crowd, injuring 12 people ranging in age from 17 to 47. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the shootings, calling them a shattering of the Juneteenth holiday, and vowed that those responsible would be held accountable.

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What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones….Violence has no place in our city, and those responsible will be held accountable.