Trump: Chicago needs 'big, strong soldiers'

Trump: Chicago needs ‘big, strong soldiers’

September 19, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Chicago needs big, strong soldiers to get the city into shape.

The president took questions from reporters on Air Force One while returning from London on Thursday.

Trump said 11 people were murdered, 28 were shot and a hundred were shot at in Chicago the previous weekend. He then referred to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“That’s what I call dangerous, and Pritzker’s going out and saying, ‘We’ve got crime under control,’” Trump said.

The president said crime did go down after he put more FBI agents in the city, but there is only so much they can do.

“What you really need is our big, strong soldiers to get them into shape. We’re not letting Chicago fail,” Trump said.

The president said Washington D.C. is now safe after he sent in the National Guard last month.

“We’re going to do the same job in Memphis, and we’re going to Chicago,” Trump said.

The president referred to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson when he said London Mayor Sadiq Khan is among the worst mayors in the world.

“I think he’s the equivalent of the mayor of Chicago. I think he’s done a terrible job. Crime in London is through the roof,” Trump said.

Johnson has repeatedly criticized Trump since the president was inaugurated in January.

The mayor did not mention Trump by name when he spoke Friday at a groundbreaking in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.

“We will not allow any of the tyranny that is working to divide and ultimately to conquer our communities prevail,” Johnson said.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Trump gives boost to Lebanese relations; puts squeeze on Iran in the process

Trump gives boost to Lebanese relations; puts squeeze on Iran in the process

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The U.S. is making strides in diminishing Iran’s footprint in the Middle East, putting the squeeze on the Islamic Republic as the president of Lebanon...
Illinois news in brief: State police use grant money to recover 342 stolen vehicles; State launches Blue Envelope program; Treasurer: State returned $307.8 million in I-CASH

Illinois news in brief: State police use grant money to recover 342 stolen vehicles; State launches Blue Envelope program; Treasurer: State returned $307.8 million in I-CASH

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square State police report hijacking and vehicle theft prevention results Illinois State Police say grant funding helped the department recover 342 stolen...
Biden recordings case could head to U.S. Supreme Court

Biden recordings case could head to U.S. Supreme Court

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Legal analysts and litigants celebrated a federal judge's decision to allow the release of audio recordings and transcripts between former President Joe Biden and a...
Pritzker touts climate, green energy record as capacity leaves, rates rise

Pritzker touts climate, green energy record as capacity leaves, rates rise

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After years of climate and green energy alternative-imposing legislation signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker,...
Warren will campaign this weekend for El-Sayed in Michigan

Warren will campaign this weekend for El-Sayed in Michigan

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square With just two weeks until Michigan’s primary, the Democratic race for U.S. Senate continues to heat up. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced her endorsement...
Trump hits Canada with new tariffs Congress may be powerless to stop

Trump hits Canada with new tariffs Congress may be powerless to stop

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian cars, alcohol and dairy this week, again using executive authority without looking to Congress. It was the...
Abbott directs healthcare, regulatory agencies to target birth tourism in Texas

Abbott directs healthcare, regulatory agencies to target birth tourism in Texas

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Gov. Greg Abbott is continuing to take action against birth tourism in Texas. On Tuesday, he took his third action in three weeks, issuing an...
Fugitive accused in $547 million Medicare fraud scheme captured

Fugitive accused in $547 million Medicare fraud scheme captured

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square A man accused of orchestrating a $547 million Medicare fraud scheme through diagnostic laboratories in Louisiana and other states has been captured overseas and returned...
Ongoing border enforcement: Revocation of citizenship of convicted criminals

Ongoing border enforcement: Revocation of citizenship of convicted criminals

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Trump administration continues its multifaceted approach to border security and national security, including its concerted effort to denaturalize citizenship of convicted criminals. The administration...
Minnesota wildfires prompt burning restrictions as air quality improves

Minnesota wildfires prompt burning restrictions as air quality improves

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square More than a dozen wildfires in northern Minnesota are adding to ongoing air quality concerns throughout the U.S., which have been primarily fueled by Canadian...
Poll: Americans views of socialism little changed despite recent elections

Poll: Americans views of socialism little changed despite recent elections

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square Despite the 2025 elections of self-proclaimed socialists Zohran Mamdani and Katie Wilson as mayors of New York City and Seattle, respectively, the number of American...
Malliotakis: Commie Caucus is coming to Congress

Malliotakis: Commie Caucus is coming to Congress

By Christen SmithThe Center Square A growing tide of democratic Socialist candidates spurred comments on Tuesday from U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis about the “rude awakening” of communism that lies ahead...
Texas Republicans chastise Mexican official’s 'audacious' border security claims

Texas Republicans chastise Mexican official’s ‘audacious’ border security claims

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas Republicans are criticizing a Mexican official in response to a letter he sent about U.S. border security. In an open letter to Mexican Senator...
Feds freeze $1B to California, Minnesota Medicaid

Feds freeze $1B to California, Minnesota Medicaid

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration is pausing more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy...
Arrangements, services in place for Graham

Arrangements, services in place for Graham

By Alan WootenThe Center Square In a service expected to bring together many foreign leaders touched through his policy work on behalf of the United States, the late U.S. Sen....