President Donald Trump stated on September 1, 2026, that Chicago 'will die' if Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker continues to refuse federal assistance to address rising crime rates. This warning follows a weekend in which 41 people were shot in the city, including 15 during a mass shooting, marking the largest such incident of the year. The total number of shooting victims in Chicago for 2026 has reached 1,255, reflecting a nearly one percent increase from the previous year.
Trump expressed his concerns in a post on Truth Social, citing that Chicago's violence is at record levels and warning of dire consequences if the situation does not improve. He stated, 'The city will die if the Federal Government, a fine-tuned crime-fighting machine, is not invited in, by the Mayor or Governor to HELP.' Trump claimed that implementing a crackdown similar to that in Washington, D.C., could lead to a significant reduction in crime.
In contrast, Governor Pritzker was participating in a world record attempt for the most people downing shots of Malort at a local bar during the same weekend. He has previously stated that Trump is 'neither wanted nor needed' in Chicago and criticized the president's tariff policies for increasing costs for residents. Pritzker mentioned that gun violence has 'no place' in Chicago but has not requested federal help.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has not responded to Trump's call for assistance, emphasizing the city's commitment to addressing gun violence through local initiatives. The recent shootings included the death of Rontonio Guterz, 35, during a mass shooting in Washington Park, and 15-year-old Kyren Wormely, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in South Austin. Law enforcement has not released details about any suspects in these incidents.
Trump is scheduled to visit Chicago later this month for the Presidents Cup golf tournament at the Medinah Country Club, starting on September 24, where he will serve as 'Honorary Chairman.' Last December, the Supreme Court blocked Trump's attempt to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, citing legal limitations on such actions.