President Trump on Tuesday warned that Chicago “will die” if Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker continues to reject federal assistance aimed at curbing crime, as the governor took part in a world record shot-drinking attempt following a violent weekend in the city that left 41 people shot.
Among the weekend violence was Chicago’s largest mass shooting of the year, with 15 people struck Saturday. The incident pushed the city’s 2026 gun violence total to 1,255 victims, nearly 1% higher than at the same point last year.
“Chicago violence is unchecked and at record levels. It has never been worse,” Trump wrote in a blistering Truth Social post, warning that the city could face grim consequences unless officials reverse the trend.
“This weekend 41 people were shot, 3 DEAD. These numbers are becoming normalized. It is out of control!
“The city will die if the Federal Government, a fine tuned crime fighting machine, is not invited in, by the Mayor or Governor to HELP. I am awaiting the call.”
Trump argued that Chicago could see “no crime” if local leaders allowed a federal crackdown similar to the one carried out in Washington, DC.
“Nobody should be forced to live under these conditions,” he said.
“The State and City can’t do what I do. Governor Pritzker, CALL!!!”
Meanwhile, Pritzker joined thousands of punters in the city’s Recess bar as part of their effort to smash the world record when it comes to the most people downing a shot of Malort in unison.
Some 1,969 revelers set the record at the Recess bar.
Pritzker was downing shots while crime stats in Chicago continue to rise. There has been a 0.7% rise in the number of shooting victims in Chicago between Jan. 1 and Aug. 29 this year, compared to the same time period in 2025.
Data reveals 254 people have been killed – a 11.4% rise compared to the same period in 2025.
Chicago has seen a 2.9% rise in the number of homicide victims – from 280 to 288.
Trump, who has previously branded Chicago a “hellhole” and threatened to deploy National Guard in the city, will be heading to Chicago later this month for the Presidents Cup golf tournament, which takes place at the Medinah Country Club and gets underway on Sept. 24
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“I look forward to being there and greeting all of these fantastic athletes on both teams!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday after revealing he will serve as “Honorary Chairman.”
“See you in Chicago!”
Pritzker, who has previously clashed with Trump over threats to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, says the president is “neither wanted nor needed” in the city, before launching a political attack, blasting the government’s tariff policies.
“But if he is going to spend time in DuPage County, he can leave the country club and explain to Illinoisans why his tariffs have made groceries, electricity, and everything else too damned expensive,” he said.
Pritzker said gun violence has “no place” in Chicago but stopped short of requesting federal help.
Brandon Johnson, Chicago’s mayor, hasn’t taken up Trump’s advice to give him a call.
“We remain steadfast in our work to break these cycles of trauma by continuing to stop the flow of guns into our communities and investing in the resources that help prevent violence before it occurs,” he said.
Of the 41 shot, 15 were struck by masked gunmen during a celebration in the city’s Washington Park neighborhood.
Rontonio Guterz, 35, was killed and 14 others were injured in what was Chicago’s largest mass shooting of the year.
The ages of the 14 injured range from 21 to 45. Meanwhile, cops have not released any details about suspects.
Teenager Kyren Wormely, 15, was killed in a drive-by shooting in South Austin, located in the city’s West Side.
The boy was shot twice and died of his injuries in hospital.
Last December, the Supreme Court blocked Trump from sending the National Guard to Chicago as part of an operation to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Trump turned to the highest court in the land trying to overturn a lower court ruling that was upheld by the appeals court.
Trump’s justification for the attempted troop deployment to the Windy City used a law that permits the president to take over the National Guard if he isn’t able to execute the law with “regular forces.”
