Trump Announces Plan to Send Federal Troops to Chicago

Strategic Insights -

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday at the White House that federal troops will be sent to Chicago to address the city's rising violence. Trump cited recent murder and shooting statistics, including six people murdered and 24 people hit by bullets just two weeks ago, and 24 people hit and seven people died last week. He also referenced a Labor Day holiday weekend in which nine people were killed and 52 were wounded, including 16 in three separate mass shootings. Trump called Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker a "terrible governor" who is "very naive or untruthful" regarding criminal violence in Chicago, and said most of those asked in a morning television show about their opinions on federal troop intervention in the city were Black and said the city needs help to make it safe.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Trump announced plans to send federal troops to Chicago to address the city's rising violence.
  • Trump cited recent murder and shooting statistics in Chicago, including six people murdered and 24 people hit by bullets just two weeks ago.
  • Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, nine people were killed and 52 were wounded in Chicago, including 16 in three separate mass shootings.
  • Trump called Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker a "terrible governor" who is "very naive or untruthful" regarding criminal violence in Chicago.
  • Most of those asked in a morning television show about their opinions on federal troop intervention in the city were Black and said the city needs help to make it safe.
  • Trump referenced the current National Guard deployments in Washington, D.C. as a "template" for what he wants to do in Chicago and other large cities.
  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order calling on the president to end his "threats to deploy the National Guard" to Chicago.
  • The executive order, the "Protecting Chicago Initiative", directs city officials to use all available resources to stop the deployment.

Statistics:

  • Six people were murdered and 24 people were hit by bullets just two weeks ago in Chicago.
  • 24 people were hit and seven people died last week in Chicago.
  • Nine people were killed and 52 were wounded in Chicago over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
  • 16 people were wounded in three separate mass shootings over the Labor Day holiday weekend in Chicago.
  • In the last three weeks, almost 20 people have been killed in Chicago.

Sources:

  • UPI, Sept. 2 (MIKE HEUER)
  • Chicago Sun-Times, Labor Day holiday weekend
  • Chicago Tribune, Morning television show
  • Statement from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson