Trump claims '4,000 people were murdered' in Chicago over short span, says he 'wants to save' city

WASHINGTON, DC: During a press briefing in the Oval Office on Friday, October 10, President Donald Trump claimed that “4,000 people were murdered” in Chicago “over a very short period of time,” stressing, “We want to save Chicago.”

His remarks came in response to a reporter’s question about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting arrests at courthouses in New York City and other parts of the country. The commander-in-chief defended the agency’s actions and pointed to DC’s restored safety as proof that federal action can help reduce crime in other cities.

Trump compares Chicago to Mexico City and 'anywhere in Afghanistan'

Responding to a question about his feelings on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers “making targeted arrests at courthouses in New York City and across the country.” Trump sharply said, “Criminals. They’re arresting criminals,” before pivoting to Chicago as an example of what he described as a “city out of control.”

He used the moment to defend the deployment of federal forces to US cities under his administration’s policies. “We want to save Chicago,” Trump declared. “They had 4,000 people murdered over a very short period of time.” His claim, though alarming, greatly exaggerates recent statistics.

Notably, city data shows a significant decline in homicides over the past few years, nearly 50% lower than in 2021. As of October 2025, Chicago has recorded 331 homicides, compared to 460 at this time last year, according to Mediaite.

Trump used the inflated figure to argue for stronger federal intervention. He compared Chicago to Mexico City and “anywhere in Afghanistan,” while taking a jab at Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, calling him a “slob” and “incompetent,” and alleging that the Democrat was “thrown out of his family business like a dog.”

The Republican leader went on to connect his comments about Chicago with broader claims about law and order in Washington.

“I'm happy about it. I want them to arrest criminals,” he said. “And if you take a look at DC. A year ago, DC, was a very unsafe place. You know that some of you were mugged, and talk openly about it. Some of the media was mugged. But right now, DC is one of the safest places in the whole country. The restaurants are booming. They're opening up new restaurants... We sent them in based on merit... Our country was founded on things based on merit.”

Federal judge blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment in Illinois

A federal judge in Illinois has temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to the state, halting his administration’s effort to send forces from Texas and other states into Chicago. The ruling came on Thursday, just hours after several Texas National Guard members were seen entering an ICE facility near the city.

US District Judge April Perry said that allowing National Guard troops into Illinois would only “add fuel to the fire.” Her comment followed more than two hours of arguments from attorneys representing the government. The state of Illinois had filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment, arguing that it overstepped federal authority.

The next day, Judge Perry issued a written order reinforcing her decision, stating that Trump’s actions “likely violate the Tenth Amendment,” which restricts federal intervention in state matters.

Meanwhile, ICE has continued its operations in the Chicago area through “Operation Midway Blitz,” resulting in more than 1,000 arrests since September. The federal action has further strained relations between state officials and the federal government.

Pritzker sharply criticized the deployment, accusing Trump of politicizing law enforcement. “He’s using our service members as political props and pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,” the Illinois governor said during a press conference.