Former Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said this week that Democrats in Illinois are resisting President Donald Trump’s plan to bring down crime in Chicago because they fear it would succeed.
Weis argued that a visible reduction in violence would expose Democratic leaders for failing to act while residents continue to live with unsafe streets.
Weis made the comments Tuesday after Trump announced his intention to intervene in Chicago, despite warnings from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson not to involve federal resources in the city.
“We’re going in. I didn’t say when, we’re going in,” Trump said.
Weis, who led the Chicago Police Department from 2008 to 2011, told the National News Desk that Pritzker and Johnson’s opposition appeared motivated by politics rather than public safety.
“I think they are afraid that people will see what can be done if politicians commit to taking action and really want to make a difference,” Weis said.
“That’s really the only reason I can think of because otherwise, it makes no sense.”
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His comments came shortly after Trump oversaw a major federal crackdown in Washington, D.C., that sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
Weis suggested that the results in the nation’s capital offered a preview of what could happen in Chicago if the federal government became directly involved in curbing crime.
Weis compared the issue to Trump’s policies on border enforcement, where he said the administration demonstrated that stricter action could yield results.
He argued that Chicago residents, once shown that crime could be significantly reduced, might begin questioning why local leaders had allowed conditions to deteriorate for so long.
According to Weis, that political risk explains why Illinois Democrats have drawn a hard line against federal intervention.
“They are afraid of being humiliated by President Donald Trump successfully bringing down crime in the city,” Weis told Fox News.
Trump’s announcement added fuel to an already tense standoff between the White House and Democratic leaders in Illinois.
Pritzker and Johnson have both criticized Trump’s approach to law enforcement and accused him of attempting to overstep his authority.
However, Trump insisted that restoring safety in Chicago is a priority, making clear that federal action is on the table.
Chicago has faced persistent challenges with violent crime over the past decade, a situation that has been a flashpoint for debate between Republicans and Democrats.
“To me, when you refuse help, you’re saying you’re happy with the numbers — and that is absolutely unacceptable in Chicago right now.”
— Former Superintendent of Chicago Police Jody Weis pic.twitter.com/RTJu7JigIR
— Patriot4Life (@Patriot4Life72) September 3, 2025
Former Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis on crime:
Democrats JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson are lying to their constituents.
Residents are begging for help, and Democrats are failing them. pic.twitter.com/i9Y3dLgNFl
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 2, 2025
Trump has frequently singled out the city as an example of what he calls the failure of progressive policies on crime and public safety.
Weis, who previously worked for the FBI before leading the Chicago Police Department, said that leadership matters more than political party.
He emphasized that results, not rhetoric, will ultimately determine how residents view the effectiveness of their elected officials.
The dispute in Illinois comes amid a broader national debate over crime policy. As federal and local leaders clash over the appropriate level of intervention, Chicago remains at the center of the discussion, with the possibility of direct federal involvement looming.
For now, Trump has not given a timeline for federal action in Chicago, but his statement left no doubt that he intends to move forward.
The response from Democrats suggests a prolonged political and legal fight could be ahead, even as residents continue to demand safer communities.
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