• Source:JND
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In a sharp comparison that has drawn attention in both the United States and India, the Donald Trump administration has justified its latest push to deploy the National Guard in American cities by highlighting that the murder rate in Chicago is nearly 15 times higher than in New Delhi.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressing reporters on Friday, said that according to 2024 figures, Chicago reported a homicide rate of 25.5 per 100,000 residents, while Delhi recorded only 1.48. “For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has had the most murders of any US city. That is unacceptable,” she said, adding that the city’s arrest rate stood at just 16 percent of nearly 148,000 reported crimes this year.

Delhi Vs Chicago: White House Releases Global Comparison

The White House also shared a comparative chart ranking the murder rates of 11 world capitals. Washington, DC topped the list at 27.64, while New Delhi stood ninth, placed ahead of London and Madrid. Islamabad, with 9.2 homicides per 100,000 residents, ranked fourth. Leavitt argued that the contrast was “stark and undeniable.” She said, “Even India’s capital, with more than 34 million people, had fewer murders than Chicago. It proves that local leadership in Illinois has completely failed to keep its residents safe.”

Delhi Police statistics show that the Indian capital recorded 504 murders and over 2,000 crimes against women in 2024, but still reported a far lower murder rate per capita compared to Chicago. By contrast, Chicago, with a population of just 2.75 million, registered 573 murders and more than 2,000 sex crimes in the same period.

Trump Targets Chicago After Washington Deployment

President Trump, who already ordered a National Guard surge in Washington DC earlier this month, said Chicago will “probably be next.” Calling the city a “mess,” he claimed residents were “screaming” for federal intervention. “Chicago will be our next federal deployment, and then we’ll help with New York,” Trump said, while accusing Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson of ignoring the crisis. Trump also used his Truth Social platform to attack Governor Pritzker. “Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn’t want my help? Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren’t capable of doing. STAY TUNED!!!” the president wrote.

Governor Pritzker, however, hit back strongly, warning that Trump’s plan to send troops without state consent would be challenged. “Action will be met with a response. We will not stand idly by if he decides to send the National Guard to intimidate Chicagoans,” he said. Mayor Brandon Johnson has also rejected Trump’s proposal, calling it a “political stunt.” Legal experts point out that, unlike Washington, DC, where the President has authority to deploy the Guard, states like Illinois enjoy constitutional protections that will likely spark a courtroom battle if Trump presses ahead.

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Washington DC Crime Falls After Guard Deployment

In Washington, which saw 100 murders between January and August 11, officials say no new homicide has been reported since the National Guard deployment earlier this month. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat who initially opposed the move, acknowledged this week that “neighbourhoods feel safer and are safer” after the surge. Trump has further called for the death penalty in federal capital cases and urged that juveniles accused of violent crimes be prosecuted as adults. He also warned states with “cashless bail” policies that they risk losing federal funds if they do not roll them back.

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The administration’s messaging is also aimed at minority communities. Nearly 95 percent of Chicago’s murder victims in 2024 were African American or Latino, a statistic Trump has cited repeatedly in an effort to appeal directly to those voters. With the comparison to New Delhi, the Trump administration has underlined its broader point that America’s major cities, despite being wealthier, are struggling with violent crime at levels far above several international capitals.