Trump challenges Pritzker after bloody weekend in Chicago: 'I can make it safe in a month'

Donald Trump once again put Chicago in the crosshairs of his anti-crime rhetoric, following a violent weekend that left at least seven dead and 38 wounded in various shootings. The president lashed out at Governor JB Pritzker and issued a challenge: «I could make Chicago a safe city in a month. In a year it would be one of the safest.»

Through his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump questioned why Pritzker does not request federal help to address the violence plaguing the city. «There are many murders in Chicago. Twenty-two people were shot and at least four died. Why doesn’t Governor Pritzker ask me for help?» the president wrote, referring to incidents that occurred between Friday, June 19, and Sunday, June 21.

One of the most serious episodes took place during a Juneteenth celebration in the Princeton Park neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. According to local police, two people opened fire from an SUV into a crowd participating in the festivities, leaving at least 12 wounded. The attack became one of the most high-profile in a string of violent incidents that once again put the city under the national spotlight.

Authorities reported that the investigation continues and that the suspects remain at large. Chicago Police requested public assistance to obtain information that could help identify those responsible. Investigators are also reviewing security camera footage and other evidence collected at the attack scene.

Statistics from the Chicago Police Department show that some indicators have increased compared to the same period in 2025, although homicide levels remain below those observed in previous years. The dissemination of different tallies of deaths and injuries resulted from updates made as investigations progressed and official reports were consolidated.

So far, Pritzker has not publicly responded to Trump’s statements following the weekend’s events. In his most recent social media posts, the governor shared messages related to Father’s Day, without addressing the president’s comments on the situation in Chicago.

Trump, for his part, defended the strategy implemented by his administration in Washington D.C. and claimed he could replicate those results in Illinois’ most populous city. The president did not specify what measures he would take, but his tone was emphatic: «I can make it safe in a month.»

Violence in Chicago is nothing new, but the weekend left a trail of blood that reignited the debate over safety in major U.S. cities. As Trump and Pritzker trade accusations, the families of the victims await answers and justice.

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