The latest Windy City weekend of violence left at least six dead and found the president calling on leaders to let him “fix this,” while the mayor held him responsible.
What ought to have been a span of celebration with friends and family gathering for Juneteenth and Father’s Day events was instead a bloodbath in Chicago. While the mayor and governor played the blame game and insisted the White House butt out, President Donald Trump pointed to past success in support of a “FAST” and permanent solution.
“At least 39 people injured, 4 dead, in Chicago weekend shootings,” the president posted overnight, referring to deployments of the National Guard around the country. “Governor Pritzker, I, as President, can fix this, FAST and Permanently. D.C., Memphis, New Orleans, all down to record lows, and quickly! CALL ME!”
The Truth Social statement followed an appeal from Trump a day earlier to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) to call on federal assistance, writing, “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago. 22 people shot, at least 4 Dead. Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE Year, it would be one of the safest!!! D.C. went from one of the worst, to one of the safest cities in the U.S.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 21, 2026
Detailing the violence throughout the city, CWB Chicago reported that at least 43 people were shot or killed in the Windy City, marking a 105% increase compared to that weekend the year prior. Rather than policing efforts or crackdowns on crime, that total was suspected to have been kept down by the chance that it rained.
Leading off the gunfire-riddled stretch, a drive-by shooting in the Princeton Park neighborhood was responsible for injuring at least 13 people when over 100 rounds were fired into a crowd. The Chicago Police Department said in a statement, “Offenders from inside the vehicle began firing gunshots towards the crowd before fleeing the scene. Multiple victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) response to the drive-by included his thanks for the work of the police, condemnation of the violence, and his “thoughts and prayers” as, “What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence.”
I am heartbroken by the violence in Princeton Park last night.⁰⁰What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) June 20, 2026
By Monday, Hizzoner appeared to have settled on scapegoating as he insisted that Trump was partially to blame during a press event.
“It’s unfortunate that this president has worked overtime to literally defund the efforts that create safer communities,” he argued.
“I wish the president would actually follow the lead of Chicago by actually investing in black America,” the mayor went on to add as he was interrupted, “You got to work with the president.”
Johnson fired back, “Well, he needs to work with me, right? Because we have put forth an agenda that he actually promised he would do. He’s failed to do that.”
Trump has worked overtime to defund the agencies and programs that actually build safer communities. Whether it’s by defunding the ATF—the federal agency tasked with getting illegal weapons off our streets—stripping our community violence intervention partners of their funding,… pic.twitter.com/I5CsnUVO8P
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) June 22, 2026
In his own response to Trump, Pritzker contended he’s asked for assistance from federal agencies while arguing, “I don’t think we should be listening to this president about promises that he makes or he has any idea how to protect us in the state of Illinois.”
The same governor has gone on record numerous times claiming the city isn’t “some sort of a hellhole” despite both the violence and sanctuary policies.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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