Trump targets Chicago after DC crime drop, plans National Guard help for big cities

After taking control of Washington, DC police to fight “crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor,” President Donald Trump is now focusing on Chicago. On August 22, Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office and said, “Chicago's a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent. We'll straighten that one out probably next. That'll be our next one after this.”

Trump has criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson before. Johnson told Democracy Now! that the city would not “cower or bend or be intimidated by these attempts to divide and conquer our communities”, as reported by the USA Today.

Trump sends troops to DC

On August 11, Trump sent 800 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, declaring a public safety emergency. Several Republican states, including Ohio, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana, also sent guardsmen to help the Trump Administration. The troops are stationed at busy tourist spots like the National Mall and at transport hubs like Union Station and Metro stops to support local police.


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Trump plans Chicago and New York visit

Trump said people in Chicago are asking for him to come and help. He said, “They're wearing red hats just like this one. But they're wearing red hats. African American ladies, beautiful ladies are saying, please, President Trump, come to Chicago, please.” Trump also mentioned that after Chicago, New York will be next to get “help”, as per the USA Today report.

Police reports have shown drastic drops in violent crimes across Washington DC since the National Guard started patrolling the capital’s streets. Over the past week, violent crimes plunged by 22%, carjackings took a 83% hit, while robberies and car theft went down by 46% and 21%. Metropolitan Police data also shows that even when compared to August 2024, 2025 saw an overall drop of 26% in violent crimes.

Though when it comes to homicide, Washington continues to feature in the top five of the United States—with 27.3 incidents per 100 k residents—just behind St. Louis, New Orleans and Detroit. On August 21, Trump met with law enforcement in DC and said his actions had made the city “safe”, according to the report by USA Today.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Trump send National Guard troops to Washington, DC?
Trump sent 800 National Guard troops to help local police control crime and ensure public safety in DC.

Q2. Is Trump planning to send help to Chicago and New York?
Yes, Trump said Chicago will be next, followed by New York, to receive federal support for crime control.