Is Trump right about Chicago's crime levels?

September 5, 2025

Chicago's crime statistics show a significant decline, with violent crime down 11% in 2023 and homicides reduced by nearly a third through August 2024 compared to the previous year. Despite President Trump's characterization of Chicago as a "killing field" and his threat to send National Guard troops, the city ranks 29th out of 37 large US cities for violent crime rate according to FBI data. Governor Pritzker has rejected federal intervention, stating Chicago is successfully addressing violent crime on its own.

Who is affected

Chicago residents (population of about 2.7 million)
Residents of the wider Chicago metropolitan area (nearly 10 million people)
People targeted by violent crime in Chicago
Chicago Police Department officers and officials
Illinois state officials and leadership

What action is being taken

Chicago Police Department is actively working to fight violent crime in the city
The CPD is publishing and tracking crime statistics showing reductions in violent crime
Crime rates in Chicago are being monitored and compared against historical data
President Trump is publicly criticizing Chicago's crime situation and threatening to send National Guard troops
Governor Pritzker is defending the city's handling of crime and rejecting federal intervention

Why it matters

The accurate representation of crime statistics impacts public perception of safety in Chicago
Federal intervention through National Guard deployment would significantly affect local governance
The political narrative around Chicago's crime rates is being used in national political discourse
Comparing crime statistics across cities helps establish context for understanding public safety trends
The significant recent decreases in Chicago's crime rates contradict characterizations of the city as having uncontrolled violence

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC