Trump's Guard plan sparks fear, defiance in Chicago

CHICAGO — President Donald Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago sent ripples through the third-largest city in the United States as many residents defended their home against Trump's escalating rhetoric toward its violent crime, including claims it is a "killing field".

The threat of federal troops stirred a mix of fear, frustration and defiance for residents as they pointed to a historic drop in violent crime. Groups constantly pressing for police reform said sending troops who lack training in de-escalating violence or any knowledge about the nuances of neighborhoods still grappling with violent crime would undo progress made in recent years.

The sentiment was echoed by people going about their day — commuters heading to work, cyclists weaving through traffic and friends pausing to take photos along Michigan Avenue — who said the presence of troops would only heighten tensions, not ease them.

"It's a direct affront to the progress our communities have made," said Bradly Johnson, who leads BUILD Chicago. The anti-violence organization focuses its efforts on neighborhoods on the city's West Side that have seen persistent crime, even as rates have fallen overall.

"It's not a war zone," Johnson said. "They're vibrant, resilient communities where young people deserve opportunities and not intimidation."

On Tuesday, Trump called Chicago a "hell hole" and repeated that Chicagoans are asking "Trump to come in" to reduce crime in the city. The statements echoed comments earlier this month when Trump indicated Chicago may be next for a federal crackdown, claiming Chicago is "a mess" and residents are "screaming for us to come".

But data paints a more nuanced picture of crime — one that varies dramatically block by block and that has seen recent progress.

Violent crime in Chicago dropped significantly in the first half of the year, representing the steepest decline in over a decade, according to city data. Shootings are down 37 percent and homicide rates have dropped by 32 percent, while total violent crime fell by over 22 percent.

"The empirical data is very clear that the Chicago trend is extremely positive," said John Roman, who directs the Center on Public Safety and Justice at the University of Chicago. "Chicago is doing better than the rest of the country on a lot of really important measures."

Gun violence

Still, the city's most ardent defenders acknowledge that gun violence has plagued parts of the city in recent years, particularly in warmer months. Chicago saw about 570 homicides in 2024, according to city data. Shooting lethality — the rate at which shooting victims die from being shot — has increased in recent years, as has the number of high-capacity magazines recovered by Chicago police at shooting scenes, according to the University of Chicago Crime Lab.

Crime in Chicago represents persistent, localized challenges, said Kimberley Smith, director of national programs for the University of Chicago Crime Lab. The neighborhoods with the highest homicide rates experience about 68 times more homicides than those with the lowest rates.

Rene Cardona, a maintenance worker born and raised in Chicago, acknowledged these inequities in exposure to violent crime while maintaining that he feels safe in Chicago generally.

"It depends where you're at and what time it is," he said. "Overall, Chicago's a pretty good place to live ... There's more good people than bad people here."

Art Jarrett, a business owner just south of downtown, also pointed to Trump's business presence in the city, saying: "He can't think it's that big a killing field; he wouldn't have built a building here."

Agencies via Xinhua