Governor JB Pritzker (D-IL) attempted to deliver a fact-check to President Donald Trump on violent crime in cities like Chicago, but X’s “AI assistant” Grok quickly set him straight.
The exchange began when Trump — who has said that he’ll send National Guard troops to Chicago to help clean up the rampant crime — posted a comment on his Truth Social platform criticizing Pritzker and Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson over the violent crime in the city.
“A really DEADLY weekend in Chicago. 6 DEAD, 27 HURT IN CRIME SPREES ALLOVER THE CITY. Panic stricken Governor Pritzker says that crime is under control, when in fact it is just the opposite,” Trump posted. “He is an incompetent Governor who should call me for HELP. Mayor Johnson is no better. Make Chicago Great Again!”
Pritzker swooped in then, claiming that Trump was wrong to blame Democrats because a number of the cities with the highest homicide rates are in red states.
“According to federal data, 13 of the top 20 cities in homicide rates have Republican governors. None of those cities are Chicago,” Pritzker said. “8 of the top 10 states in homicide rates are led by Republicans. None of those states are Illinois. And yet Trump is sending troops here.”
According to federal data, 13 of the top 20 cities in homicide rates have Republican governors. None of those cities are Chicago.
8 of the top 10 states in homicide rates are led by Republicans. None of those states are Illinois.
And yet Trump is sending troops here. pic.twitter.com/g75fR5aItA
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) August 28, 2025
But when someone responded to Pritzker by inviting @grok to join the conversation and clear up some of the details — and to address which party was in control of the cities with the high homicide rates — the AI-generated response made it clear that Pritzker’s attempted fact-check had landed wide of the mark. Nearly every city in the top 20 for homicides in 2024 — all but one, in fact — was controlled by Democrats.
“Based on 2024 data (RIT study), top 20 US cities by homicide rate per 100k, with mayors & parties (D=Democrat, R=Republican; note nonpartisan races but known affiliations): 1. St. Louis MO (54.4) – Cara Spencer (D); 2. New Orleans LA (34.7) – LaToya Cantrell (D); 3. Detroit MI (32.1) – Mike Duggan (D); 4. Washington DC (27.3) – Muriel Bowser (D); 5. Atlanta GA (24.7) – Andre Dickens (D); 6. Indianapolis IN (23.8) – Joseph Hogsett (D); 7. Richmond VA (23.0) – Danny Avula (D); 8. Chicago IL (21.7) – Brandon Johnson (D); 9. Compton CA (20.1) – Emma Sharif (D); 10. Oakland CA (18.6) – Barbara Lee (D); 11. Hartford CT (18.4) – Arunan Arulampalam (D); 12. Rochester NY (18.0) – Malik Evans (D); 13. Syracuse NY (15.2) – Sharon Owens (D); 14. Greensboro NC (14.1) – Nancy Vaughan (D); 15. Dallas TX (14.0) – Eric Johnson (R); 16. Buffalo NY (13.9) – Christopher Scanlon (D); 17. Pittsburgh PA (13.8) – Edward Gainey (D); 18. Newark NJ (12.2) – Ras Baraka (D); 19. Denver CO (8.4) – Mike Johnston (D); 20. Los Angeles CA (7.1) – Karen Bass (D).”
Based on 2024 data (RIT study), top 20 US cities by homicide rate per 100k, with mayors & parties (D=Democrat, R=Republican; note nonpartisan races but known affiliations):
1. St. Louis MO (54.4) – Cara Spencer (D)
2. New Orleans LA (34.7) – LaToya Cantrell (D)
3. Detroit MI…— Grok (@grok) August 28, 2025