Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson Urge Against National Guard Deployment in Chicago
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference on Monday, aiming to dissuade President Donald Trump from deploying the National Guard in the city to address crime issues.
During remarks made to the media on Friday, Trump mentioned the possibility of sending National Guard troops to Chicago, a move he considered after their recent deployment to Washington, D.C. Pritzker, stepping up first, noted that while city leaders might not always agree, they unified to counter the president’s suggestion.
“Look at the people gathered behind me today,” Pritzker stated. “This group represents a wide array of Chicago leaders from business, faith, law enforcement, education, to community organizations. We may have different views on how to tackle the ongoing challenges our cities face every day.”
Pritzker continued, reflecting on Trump’s comments, “In the Oval Office, Donald Trump looks into the camera and asks, ‘Will you give us the honor of protecting our city?’ Well, we don’t need that kind of help from you, especially given your track record.”
To bolster his argument, Pritzker toured areas of the city experiencing notably lower crime rates earlier that day. He even shared a video on social media showcasing these positive aspects of Chicago, asserting that the city was far from being “hell.”
Following Pritzker, Johnson addressed the public, emphasizing that residents do not want the National Guard on their streets, pointing instead to declining crime statistics in the city.
“We are often targeted simply for being who we are,” Johnson remarked. “We exemplify what happens when communities unite and work together. The last thing we need is someone who doesn’t know Chicago dictating what should happen here.”
“As mayor, I can assure you that Chicagoans are not calling for a military presence,” he reiterated. “What we really seek is investment in our communities. Cities that are deemed safe across the U.S. have one thing in common: they invest in their people, which is what we are striving to do in Chicago.”
Recent data indicated that as of August 25, 2025, there were 262 reported murders in Chicago, a significant decrease from the previous year. The statistics show a 22% drop in crime during the first half of 2025 compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
Meanwhile, Trump announced legislative changes concerning crime responses in Washington, stemming from increasing public concern over local crime rates.
Democratic leaders and analysts have pointed to a reported 35% decrease in crime in the Capitol, although they noted that certain violent crimes were excluded from those figures. In July, an investigation was launched into a local police commander accused of manipulating crime statistics, as reported by NBC Washington.
Across the board, Democrats maintain opposition to Trump’s crime strategies. A recent Harvard Cap/Harris poll revealed that 54% of registered voters viewed Trump’s crime initiatives in the nation’s capital as “justified and necessary.”
