Chicago (AP) – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has doubled his message to President Donald Trump that he doesn’t need or want the third largest city in the country Military intervention He said that showing off parts of a city where violent crime has declined to combat crime and sending the National Guard would only escalate the issue.
“We want to make sure there’s no emergency in Chicago and show off,” Democrats told The Associated Press on Wednesday, walking through the Southside neighborhood, which has recently revitalized an art studio, an aquarium store and a wine bar.
“We’ve been fighting crime. We’ve been trying to prevent crime, but it’s at work.”
Seen as presidential candidates in 2028, Trump and Pritzker exchanged shaming for several days over the supposed plans that could allow the National Guard to be deployed to Chicago and Baltimore, as the administration did. Los Angeles and Washington DC
Pretzker and City leaders vow to sue, but during that time, Pretzker convenes a flashy newspaper meeting, posting sarcastic social media, Choreography Campaign-style neighbours stop and put Chicago in the spotlight.
The return and the trip comes as polls suggest support for Trump’s aggressive focus on crime in a big city run by the Democrats and wealthy businessmen. Third termcontinuing to build his national profile.
I’m looking to Chicago now
Chicago has long been one of Trump’s favorite targets, and he likens it to a war zone and this week to a “hole of hell.” The city’s decades-old sanctuary status also plagued the Trump administration; prompted a lawsuit. In January, Trump launched a nationwide crackdown on immigrants in Chicago. Arrested TV personality “Dr. Phil” McGraw.
“Panicked Governor Pritzker says that if it’s actually the opposite, crime is under control. He’s an incompetent governor who should ask me for help,” Trump posted on his true social media platform.
The possibility of military patrols in Chicago was quickly condemned by Mayor Brandon Johnson, a group of religious leaders and activists who argued that crime was on the decline. Details about how the operation works have not been revealed, but the Chicagoans It was still the edge Questions about where the troops will be deployed and whether they will be armed.
“What he’s trying to do is try to inflam some things that cause problems he can point to,” Pretzker told the Associated Press.
Violent crime in Chicago has declined significantly in recent years, but remains a local issue. Some areas with the highest homicide rates, including the city’s south and west, have murders of 68 times the lowest rate, according to the University of Chicago Crime Institute.
According to Rochester Institute of Technology, the city reported 573 murders in 2024. At the same time, violent crimes fell sharply in the first half of the year, representing the most sharp decline over the decade, according to city data. The first six months of 2025 saw an overall violent crime fall by more than 22% compared to the same period last year.
“He talks about a good game,” Pretzker said of Trump. “He wants to reduce crime, but he’s doing something that candidly pays off police and reimburses his efforts to combat crime.”
The majority of Americans, 81%, view crime as a “major problem” in big cities. New AP-NORC polls It was released on Wednesday. Trump seized these concerns as he deployed the National Guard in the District of Columbia. They threatened to expand the model. Other places. This approach appears to be helping Trump, at least for now, as polls showed a slight increase in his overall approval rate.
About half of American adults, 53%, say they approve Trump’s crime handling, polls find. However, polls found that there is little general support for federal acquisitions to local police stations. It suggests that opinions could change depending on how actively Trump pursues his threat.
“It’s true, there’s far more going on in the world than he would send the troops to Chicago,” Pretzker said. “He needs to focus on some of the bigger issues.”
Pretzker’s Political Theatre
Pritzker has invited reporters since details of possible plans were revealed last week Chicago River Water Taxi For a picturesque ride, he convened about 100 of the city’s most powerful leaders for a solidarity press conference and dug up cards in a narrated video of his morning walk along Lake Michigan.
By Wednesday, he chose a few tourist locations away from downtown and greeted the crowd at a soul food restaurant in the historic black Bronzeville district on the south side of the city. Cleo normally closes on Wednesdays, but the restaurant owner opened for Pretzker and packed a small space with family and staff, all the supporters of the governor for the second term.
Associated Press reporters were invited to greet the crowd and observe as they walked along the business corridor of black-owned businesses. The photographers from the Pritzker campaign team were also leading the way.
Pretzker, the heir to Fortune at Hyatt Hotel, was first elected in public office in 2018. He avoids questions about his plans for 2028 and says he is focusing on the state.
Pretzker dismissed the notion that he was in the spotlight in Chicago.
“I’m not a Chicago target,” he said. “I’m not just talking to Chicago to get attention.”
