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ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith argued Thursday that Democrats oppose the president Donald TrumpCriminal repression in cities is motivated by self-self and fear of losing power.
Smith told hosts in an interview with Fox News Channel’s “Will Cain Show” that Democratic leaders, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, refused to work with Trump because it would damage their image of working with the president.
“When you have no denying that there are self involved, people are worried about their power being usurped, and there are also people are worried about maintaining power because, if they have any cooperation, they are willing to work with the president and willing to work with the president, they will be separated from the party.”
ESPN commentator Stephen A. (Scott Olson/Getty; Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty; Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty)
Trump said he intends to send federal forces to Chicago to resolve violent crimes in the city. He wrote in the Truth Social Post shared on Tuesday: “At least 54 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend and eight were killed. Pritzker needs help in urgent need, he doesn’t know yet. I’ll quickly resolve the crime, just like I did in DC.
Washington, D.C. reported crime reports have decreased in recent weeks after Trump ordered the deployment of the U.S. National Guard and expanded federal law enforcement last month.
Trump’s call for Chicago similar to federal intervention sparked a counterattack from Pritzker and Johnson.
Chicago mayor calls Trump’s National Guard deployment plan “inconsistent, unconformity”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke in Chicago with Mayor Brandon Johnson and other officials. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Governor Already said There is no criminal emergency in Chicago, and Trump “tryes to create a crisis, politicize service Americans, and continues to abuse his powers to disperse the pain that he has caused to his working family.”
He also called Trump’s ideas “unconstitutional” and “non-American.”
Johnson Written on X last month“What the President proposes will be the most blatant violation of our constitution in the 21st century. The city of Chicago does not require military occupation.”
Smith argues that while Democratic leaders are protecting their own self, Republicans are also feeling impoverished by blindly supporting Trump’s agenda.
“But they are not the only ones who have committed crimes, because we have seen people willing to sign anything on whatever the president says and sign for the same reason, so it’s all-out politics.”
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President Donald Trump visits U.S. Park Police Operation Anacostia Facility in Washington, DC on August 21, 2025 (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
But, Smith said, crime and death in Chicago must take precedence over political quarrels.
“But when black people talk about murders you emphasize and express, that’s my main focus, and when we’re talking about it, it should get the attention of all other things,” he told Cain. “People are killed on the streets, especially on the streets of Chicago.”
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Representatives of Pritzker and Johnson did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Cameron Arcand and Landon Mion of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
