In an unexpected shift, panelists on MSNBC’s Morning Joe called on Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to work directly with President Donald Trump to combat the escalating violent crime plaguing Chicago.
The plea followed a bloody Labor Day weekend in the city, where at least 54 people were shot and seven were killed, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
“J.B. Pritzker should do something radical,” said host Joe Scarborough during Tuesday’s broadcast. “Pick up the phone, call the president… and let’s work together to save lives.”
Scarborough criticized both Governor Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing them of posturing and political deflection while communities suffer from daily gun violence and unchecked criminal activity.
‘Let’s Work Together to Save Lives’
Scarborough acknowledged the constitutional limits on federal deployment of National Guard troops without state approval but argued that collaboration, not confrontation, is what Illinois needs.
Continuing in a hypothetical conversation about how the governor should approach the issue, Scarborough said, “You and I know [Trump] doesn’t have the constitutional authority to deploy the Guard here. But let’s partner up… the most dangerous parts of my state would love to figure out how to have a partnership that’s constitutional, that respects federalism.”
“This ‘nothing to see here’ act isn’t working anymore,” he added.
Co-host Willie Geist reinforced the sentiment, noting that the current wave of violence is not unusual, but rather part of a years-long trend. Chicago’s murder rate reached a 25-year high in 2021, and though it has fluctuated since, homicides and shootings remain elevated compared to the previous decade.
Mayor Johnson Faces Criticism for Evasive Crime Policies
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a progressive Democrat, appeared on Morning Joe last week and refused to say whether he supports increasing police presence in the city. Instead, Johnson pointed to affordable housing and mental health resources as his preferred crime-fighting tools — a stance that’s drawn growing criticism from residents and national media.
“’Hey Donald Trump, we don’t need you’ and the mayor talking about ‘we’re gonna protect people’s dignity in our city.’ Protect their lives — that’s protecting their dignity,” Scarborough said Tuesday, taking aim at Johnson’s rhetoric.
Johnson and Pritzker have consistently opposed Trump’s suggestions that federal intervention is necessary, arguing it would violate the Constitution and undermine public safety.
During an August 25 press conference, the two Democrats pleaded with Trump to stay out of Chicago, insisting that local leadership could manage the crisis. Johnson went so far as to accuse Trump of spreading misinformation about the city’s crime statistics.
Trump Signals Chicago Could Be His Next Target After D.C. Crackdown
But Trump isn’t waiting for an invitation.
Speaking during an Oval Office event, Trump said, “Chicago is a mess. You have an incompetent mayor — grossly incompetent — and we’ll straighten that one out probably next… and it won’t even be tough.”
He pointed to the success of his crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., where federal agents have made over 1,600 arrests and confiscated 168 illegal firearms since the Department of Justice’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department earlier this year.
“The people in Chicago… are screaming for us to come,” Trump said.
While Johnson and Pritzker insist that Trump’s tough-on-crime posture is politically motivated, many residents tell a different story.
Interviews with locals have painted a very different picture than state and city leadership, expressing enthusiasm at the prospect of Trump replicating his D.C. efforts in the Windy City.
Next Steps?
Whether Pritzker or Johnson will heed MSNBC’s call for a bipartisan partnership remains to be seen, though it seems unlikely. But with another violent summer in the books and calls for federal intervention growing louder, the political pressure on Illinois’ leadership — from both the left and right — is mounting.
As Scarborough put it, “You can’t solve a problem if you won’t admit you have one.”
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