President Trump has shifted his attention from Chicago to New Orleans as the potential next city for federal assistance, according to recent statements. The president cited Governor Jeff Landry of New Orleans as a key factor in this pivot, highlighting the governor’s request for help addressing crime in the city.
While Trump reiterated his commitment to aiding Chicago, he emphasized that the city’s leadership has consistently resisted federal support. Mayor J.B. Pritzker, a 2028 presidential hopeful and leader of the Hyatt hotel empire, has openly opposed any federal intervention, including the deployment of the National Guard. Pritzker criticized Trump’s approach, stating, “Chicago does not want troops on our streets,” and rejecting what he called a “reality game show” with the president.
Chicago’s mayor recently signed an executive order limiting collaboration between local police and federal agencies, asserting that the city would not allow its law enforcement to be “deputized” by the federal government. Despite rising concerns over violence, crime rates in both Chicago and New Orleans have shown declines. Chicago reported 573 murders in 2023, the lowest since 2019, while New Orleans saw a 38% drop in homicides from 2023 to 2024.
Trump’s potential focus on New Orleans reflects a strategy of prioritizing cities where leadership is more receptive to federal aid, with the president vowing to “make every U.S. city great again.” The next steps remain uncertain, but the shift has sparked debate over the role of federal intervention in urban safety.