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By Jasmine Laws
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President Donald Trump has called for military intervention in Chicago after multiple shootings over the long weekend saw at least seven people killed and dozens injured.
On Truth Social, the president wrote on Sunday: "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."
In another post on the social media platform on Monday, Trump wrote: "At least 39 people injured, 4 dead, in Chicago weekend shootings. 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!"
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When approached for comment, the White House referred Newsweek to the president's comments. Newsweek has also contacted Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's office for comment via email outside regular working hours.
Two Dozen Shootings in Chicago
Preliminary information shared by Chicago police indicates at least two dozen shooting incidents took place since 5 p.m. on Friday. Those killed include a 21-year-old shot in the chest on Sunday, an 18-year-old shot in the armpit Saturday evening and a 50-year-old shot in the chest on Friday.
At least 12 people in a crowd on a Chicago street also suffered gunshot wounds Friday evening after an SUV pulled up and two people inside began shooting, police said.
Eight men and four women were in the wounded group, and their ages ranged from 17 to 47. They were being treated at four hospitals, and police said there was another man who suffered unknown injuries, though he refused medical treatment.
That shooting happened on Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., and earlier on Friday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama had welcomed the first visitors to his presidential center on the South Side.
On X, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on Saturday that he was "heartbroken by the violence" in Princeton Park. "What 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," he continued.
Johnson added in a separate post, "Violence has no place in our city, and those responsible will be held accountable."
Data from the Chicago Police Department shows a slight increase in shooting incidents in 2026 compared to the first half of last year, although violent crime rates have generally decreased in the city over the past few years, as they have broadly done nationally.
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Chicago Priest Criticizes Trump
A Chicago priest has since hit out at Trump for his comments. Father Michael Pfleger, a prominent South Side priest at St. Sabina Catholic Church, told him to "shut up" as community groups, faith leaders, and city officials got together on Monday at City Hall to discuss how gun violence should be tackled, in light of the shootings.
"Just send money and restore the money you took away from gun violence prevention for the city of Chicago and across this country. Give the money back now," he added.
When Trump Sent Federal Troops to US Cities
Last August, Trump announced a sweeping federal intervention in Washington, D.C., deploying about 1,000 National Guard troops in the capital and using emergency powers to bring the city's police department under federal control, despite crime rates reaching a 30-year low.
A study by the Niskanen Center, a nonpartisan think tank, found last month that the visible presence of federal troops in the city had done little to affect crime rates.
The president has also deployed National Guard troops on crime-fighting missions in Democrat-led cities, including Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans.
Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, has previously refused Trump's proposals to deploy federal troops to Illinois. Last year, the governor sued the administration after it tried to send 300 military personnel to the state following a series of clashes between residents and law enforcement over immigration-related activity.
Condemning the action as an "invasion," Pritzker asked the court to declare the deployments unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court by the state of Illinois, said, "The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor."
It added: "To guard against this, foundational principles of American law limit the president's authority to involve the military in domestic affairs. Those bedrock principles are in peril."
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson previously told Newsweek: "Amidst ongoing violent riots and lawlessness, that local leaders like Pritzker have refused to step in to quell, President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to protect federal officers and assets. President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities."
Update 6/23/26, 3:26 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Shakeema Edwards and Ben Kelly.
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