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President Trump said on Tuesday that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) should “call for help” after an 18-year-old allegedly struck five police officers with a car over Memorial Day weekend.
“Teen takeover in Chicago. Five officers badly hurt. Mayor and Governor are terrible. Should call for help!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
Rashad Johnson was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree attempted murder, five counts of aggravated assault and weapons charges after the Chicago Police Department (CPD) said he injured several officers in a car ramming early Sunday morning.
Officers were attempting to disperse a crowd in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood around 3:20 a.m. when Rashad Johnson, who was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane, struck the officers, drove over the curb, struck a CPD vehicle and crashed into a pole and fence, according to the police department.
The five officers were taken to nearby hospitals and are expected to be okay, authorities said. No other injuries were reported.
Neighbors described a chaotic scene when what looked like “a million kids” descended on the streets, with one resident telling Nexstar affiliate WGN that they spoke with a neighbor who was “afraid to come outside.”
“You don’t want to get caught up in that,” the resident said.
Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote in a social media post on Sunday that the city had witnessed “firsthand” how unauthorized large gatherings can “quickly become dangerous.”
“I am grateful to the officers who responded diligently to help keep people safe and relieved that the officers who were injured are in fair condition,” he wrote.
The mayor called on parents and families to “know where their children are,” pushing for accountability for individuals who participated in what he labeled “violent and reckless behavior.”
“My administration is creating opportunities and safe spaces for young people, but families, communities, and city leaders all have a role to play in keeping our young people safe,” he added.
Trump threatened to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the Windy City last summer to crack down on violent crime, labeling Pritzker as “incompetent” and the mayor “no better” at the time. The plan was ultimately struck down by the Supreme Court, which found the president overstepped his authority when he attempted to send military troops to patrol Chicago.
“While we welcome this ruling, we also are clear-eyed that the Trump Administration’s pursuit for unchecked power is continuing across the country,” Pritzker said in a December statement. “Illinois will remain vigilant, defend the rights of our people, and stand up to further abuses of authority by Donald Trump and his cronies.”
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