Trump’s Pressure Cooker Is Making Bad Mayors Blink
Kevin McCullough
Chicago’s mayor spent the weekend thundering about “democracy,” “fascism,” and the Constitution. Then he showed up on MSNBC and—under the hottest spotlight of his tenure—stumbled over the simplest question in public safety: would more cops on the street make Chicago safer? Joe Scarborough asked it five times. Brandon Johnson couldn’t say yes. He filibustered about housing, mental health, and youth jobs until he was forced to mutter that the police must be “fully supported.” Translation: with Trump threatening federal muscle, even the most progressive mayor knows he can’t keep sneering at cops.
Let’s set the scene. After deploying forces to Washington, D.C., President Trump said Chicago could be next if local leaders won’t get a handle on crime. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson staged a press conference to warn him off and swear they’ll fight any National Guard deployment in court. “Do not come to Chicago,” Pritzker barked. Johnson called it a “flagrant violation” of the Constitution. The tough talk sounded great on cable… right up until the mayor had to explain why more officers wouldn’t help.
Here’s what’s really happening: pressure works. The moment a real, accountable standard is imposed—results, not rhetoric—ideologues scramble to claim progress they once said policing could never deliver. And to be fair, Chicago has seen progress. Homicides and shootings have fallen sharply over the last two years. Through June 29, 2025, murders were down 32 percent year-to-date compared with 2024, according to CPD’s own CompStat reports; local outlets pegged the first-half drop at roughly one-third. That’s good news for every family in the city.
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https://townhall.com/columnists/kevinmccullough/2025/08/27/trumps-pressure-cooker-is-making-bad-mayors-blink-n2662399
