In Chicago, Trump Derangement Syndrome Trumps Public Safety

President Donald Trump’s use of National Guard troops in Chicago (my home town) has ignited a firestorm of controversy. His declaration: “We’re going in. I didn’t say when”—came after a particularly violent Labor Day weekend in the city, where 58 people were shot and eight killed. Trump’s move is framed as a response to what he calls “the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far”. But Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have responded with fierce resistance, insisting that the city does not need federal intervention. Their stance, however, is increasingly being seen as tone-deaf in the face of mounting public concern and the undeniable level of violence in the Windy City

A Tale of Two Narratives

Pritzker has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s plan as “unconstitutional and un-American,” claiming that “there is no emergency in the city of Chicago to send troops in”. Mayor Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating, “We do not need nor want an unconstitutional and illegal military occupation of our city”. Both leaders point to year-over-year declines in crime—Chicago Police Department data shows shootings are down 37 percent and homicides have dropped 32 percent compared to 2024.

But these statistics, while encouraging in isolation, fail to capture the lived reality in many of Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. The city’s South and West Sides—home to predominantly Black and Hispanic communities—continue to bear the brunt of gun violence. Over Labor Day weekend alone, three separate mass shootings occurred in Bronzeville, Oakland, and Humboldt Park. In Bronzeville, seven people were wounded in a drive-by attack. In Oakland, five were hospitalized after gunfire erupted at a community gathering.  In Humboldt Park, four were shot in another drive-by incident.

These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re part of a pattern. Chicago’s Labor Day weekend was the most violent holiday stretch of the summer, surpassing Memorial Day and Independence Day in casualties. And while other major cities like New York and Los Angeles also grapple with crime, Chicago’s numbers are staggering. In 2025, the city has already recorded 278 homicides, and the Labor Day weekend alone saw more shootings than many cities see in a month – more than double the shootings in any other city. In fact, more shootings than New York City, Washington, D.C. and Detroit combined.

Voices from the Ground

While city leaders insist they can handle the situation, many residents disagree. Alderman Raymond Lopez, a Democrat representing the 15th Ward on Chicago’s West Side, has emerged as a vocal supporter of Trump’s plan. “Residents live in a state of fear,” Lopez said. “If the mayor and the governor continue to say crime is down, crime is decreasing, everything’s great, then why don’t we take Donald Trump up on his offer and go even further?”

Lopez argues that deploying the National Guard to patrol tourist areas like Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile would free up local police to focus on gang violence and drug trafficking in the neighborhoods. “We need the actual presence of the National Guard to focus on the assets of the city so that our police can go into the communities and go after those individual gang members, drug dealers and human traffickers,” said Lopez.

Other residents share Lopez’s frustration. Bronzeville resident Alex Kali told reporters, “I got kids, and I want to see the community better… for the streets to be safer.  I think it [Trump’s plan] is really good”. These voices reflect a growing sentiment that political posturing is taking precedence over public safety.

Political Animosity vs. Public Safety

The resistance to Trump from Pritzker and Johnson appears rooted more in political animosity – Trump Derangement Syndrome — than in a clear-eyed assessment of the crisis. Pritzker has called Trump’s actions “a reality game show” and accused him of manufacturing a crisis. Johnson, meanwhile, signed an executive order dubbed the “Protecting Chicago Initiative,” which directs city officials to resist federal intervention and labels Trump’s plan as “tyranny”.

But this framing ignores the urgency of the situation. When two teenagers are shot in a single ward on the same day city leaders claim they do not need help, the disconnect becomes glaring. Lopez rightly criticized this as “political performance,” urging leaders to stop engaging in “social media, TikTok battles” and start coordinating real solutions.

The Cost of Inaction

The stakes are high. Continued violence erodes trust in local government, destabilizes communities, and perpetuates cycles of poverty and trauma. The refusal to accept federal assistance—especially when offered without preconditions—risks deepening the crisis. Trump has made clear that he views the deployment as a duty, not a political stunt. “Look, I have an obligation. This isn’t a political thing. I have an obligation”.

Vice President J.D. Vance emphasized that the goal is not a long-term occupation but a temporary intervention to restore safety: “We don’t want indefinitely to put National Guardsmen on the streets of our cities. We just want to make those streets more safe”.

Time to Prioritize People Over Politics

Chicago’s leadership faces a critical choice. They can continue to resist Trump’s plan by fomenting unrest and even violence against federal law enforcement — citing the relatively meaningless declining crime statistics. Or they can acknowledge the reality on the ground—the fear, the bloodshed, the pleas from residents—and accept help to restore safety and stability.  Pritzker and Johnson should not be opposing Trump.  They should be inviting his help.

Alderman Lopez put it best when he said, “It’s shameful, really, because that’s what actually is driving a lot of the concern.” The people of Chicago deserve more than political theater. They deserve protection, peace, and leadership that puts their safety above partisan pride.

If Trump’s plan can deliver that—even temporarily—it’s worth serious consideration. Because in the end, the measure of leadership is not how loudly one resists, but how effectively one responds.  In that regard, Pritzker and Johnson are failing. The shame is on them. Unfortunately, it is the people of Chicago who pay the price in blood for leadership that is both incompetent and racist.

So, there ‘tis.