The city of Chicago is in trouble. Good people are being hurt. Families are mourning the loss of loved ones. Over Labor Day weekend, eight people were killed and more than fifty were wounded in shootings. This kind of violence should never be accepted as normal. And yet, the leaders of Chicago and Illinois continue to act as if everything is fine. They refuse to accept help from President Trump, even when that help could save lives. It is shameful, and it is dangerous.
Zoe Leigh, a brave young woman who founded the group “Chicago Flips Red,” spoke out against these leaders. She called them the “Useless Five” — a name that fits sadly well. These leaders, including Democrat Governor JB Pritzker and Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson, held a press conference to reject Trump’s offer of federal support. They mocked the President and turned away his hand of help. Meanwhile, the people of Chicago continue to suffer.
Zoe Leigh grew up in the suburbs of New York. She didn’t know what it was like to live in fear until she moved to Chicago in her mid-20s. Now, she watches as seniors, children, mothers, and young men are killed in the streets. The violence has become so common that some people have started to see it as normal. But as Zoe rightly said, “That is not normal.” She is correct. No American should have to live in fear of walking outside.
Instead of taking action to protect their citizens, Chicago’s leaders are playing politics. Governor Pritzker said he wouldn’t ask the President for help because he didn’t want to be part of a “reality game show.” Mayor Johnson signed an executive order stopping local police from working with federal agents. He even accused President Trump of using the crisis to gain power. These are not the words or actions of serious leaders. These are the actions of politicians who care more about pride and party than people.
Chicago’s leaders are blaming others instead of taking responsibility. Mayor Johnson said Chicago will have a violence problem as long as red states have a “gun problem.” This is nonsense. Every state in this country has access to firearms, but not every state has this level of violence. The truth is that liberal policies have failed Chicago for decades. The city’s leaders have allowed crime to grow, police to be weakened, and families to be divided. Now, they refuse the help they so desperately need.
President Trump has made it clear: he is ready to send help. He is ready to bring in the National Guard and federal agents to support local law enforcement. He is not doing this for praise or politics. He is doing it because it is the right thing to do. Unlike the Democrats running Chicago, President Trump understands that peace and order must come first. Without safety, there can be no freedom.
Zoe Leigh is not alone. Many citizens of Chicago are waking up. They are tired of being ignored. They are tired of watching their communities fall apart while politicians argue on television. They want real change. They want strong leadership. They want a return to law and order. And they are beginning to understand that those things do not come from the left.
It is time for Chicago’s leaders to put aside their pride and do what is best for their people. Accept the help. Work with the federal government. Protect your citizens. Every day they wait, more lives are lost. That is not a game. That is a tragedy.
Our nation cannot thrive if our cities fall apart. Chicago is not just a city — it is part of America’s heart. We must defend it. We must restore it. And we must never allow violence and chaos to become the new normal. The time for action is now. And the time for choosing strong, honest leadership is long overdue.
