WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — President Donald Trump unveiled a significant plan on Monday to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., while suggesting that similar measures could be implemented in Chicago.
“I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor and worse,” Trump stated.
Despite his claims, police data indicates a decrease in crime in both Washington, D.C. and Chicago.
For years, Trump has criticized the safety of Washington, claiming it was plagued by crime. Following an incident where a former government staffer was attacked in an attempted carjacking, he proposed a federal intervention in D.C.
“We’re going to take our capital back. We’re taking it back. Under the authorities vested in me as the president of the United States, I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, you know what that is, and placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” Trump declared.
In an effort to reinforce security, sources informed ABC News that various law enforcement officials, including personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Secret Service, and U.S. Park Police, have been dispatched to the district, alongside 120 FBI agents.
Interestingly, data from the police reveals that crime in Washington has actually decreased by 7% since last year, with violent crime dropping by 26% and property crimes down 5%. Remarkably, violent crime in the capital reached a 30-year low in January.
In response to Trump’s remarks, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin condemned the president’s actions as a distraction tactic.
“It’s a typical move by this president,” Durbin remarked.
Trump directed criticism towards Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, attacking the state’s no-cash bail laws.
“If we need to, we’re going to do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster. We have a mayor there who’s totally incompetent. He’s an incompetent man,” Trump said.
In contrast, Mayor Johnson defended his administration’s efforts, stating that violence prevention programs have significantly contributed to a decline in violent crime.
“This is the same president that has cut $800 million out of the budget for violence prevention, where I make investments in violence prevention,” Johnson remarked.
According to data analyzed by the ABC7 data team, Chicago has seen over 24,000 violent crimes in the past year, marking a 12.5% reduction compared to the average of the previous three years. Additionally, shootings have decreased by more than 31% during the same period.
Trump continued to criticize Governor Pritzker, stating, “Pritzker is an incompetent; his family threw him out of the business, and he ran for governor, and now I understand he wants to be president. But I noticed he lost a little weight, so maybe he has a chance.”
In a light-hearted response, Pritzker later acknowledged the compliment from Trump, in his own way.
He further asserted that federal intervention in Chicago by the National Guard is not permitted under state law.
“The federal government does not have the right to send soldiers into the American cities for any purpose, especially not to fight crime,” Pritzker stated.
In California, a judge is set to hear arguments on whether the Trump administration violated federal law by deploying National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests concerning immigration raids last June.
Unrelatedly, during a public appearance on Monday, Pritzker mentioned his motivations for running for governor, expressing his belief that Illinois was heading in a misguided direction. While he hasn’t dismissed the idea of a presidential run, he emphasized his current focus on pursuing a third term as governor.
Alongside directors from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education, Pritzker also took the opportunity to encourage immunizations ahead of the new school year.
“As our classrooms come back to life and our kids get back to learning and playing with one another, it’s essential that everyone take this safe and effective step to protect their health,” he urged.
Dr. Sameer Vohra, the IDPH Director, also emphasized the importance of immunizations for children’s success in school.
“If you haven’t gotten your physical, now is the time to contact your health care provider or take advantage of back-to-school clinics in your community,” Vohra added.
image source from：abc7chicago
