President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized Chicago’s handling of violent crime following an attack that left a 26-year-old woman critically burned, again urging Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to permit National Guard troops to deploy to the city. Trump made the remarks during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon at the White House, as reported by Fox News.

The President referenced the case of Bethany MaGee, who was allegedly set on fire on Nov. 17 while riding a Chicago Transit Authority train. Authorities have charged 50-year-old Lawrence Reed in the attack.

Reed has a documented history of 72 arrests over multiple decades and had been released on bond at the time of the incident, despite prosecutors seeking to keep him in custody.

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“This is a very serious thing,” Trump said.

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“They burned this beautiful woman riding in a train. A man was arrested 72 times. 72 times. Think of that. And they’ll let him out again, the liberal judges will let him out again.”

Trump added that Chicago crime is “out of control” and renewed his demand for state and city leaders to approve federal intervention.

He has repeatedly attempted to send federal resources into Chicago, citing deployments in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Memphis as examples he says led to reductions in violent crime.

Pritzker and Johnson have opposed the use of National Guard personnel, arguing that deployment would be unconstitutional and denying that Chicago is experiencing the level of crisis described by the White House.

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Trump has also publicly discussed invoking the Insurrection Act as another option to address ongoing violence.

“But we’re ready to go,” he said. “You know, we’ve been moving toward Chicago. We have a governor that thinks it’s wonderful that only like seven people were killed this week… It’s horrible what’s happening in Chicago.”

Trump said federal intervention would restore order quickly. “And the people of Chicago want us to go there. And if you look at the crime that’s taking place in Chicago in the last two weeks, just take a look. It’s on the front page of every newspaper,” he said.

“It’s out of control. The mayor is incompetent, and the governor is a big fat slob. He ought to invite us in and say, ‘Please make Chicago safe.’” Trump added, “We’re going to lose a great city if we don’t do it quickly.”

The attack on MaGee has intensified criticism of Cook County’s criminal justice practices.

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Reed had been placed on electronic monitoring in August after Cook County Judge Teresa Molina-Gonzalez denied prosecutors’ request to keep him jailed on felony allegations that he knocked a social worker unconscious at MacNeal Hospital’s psychiatric ward.

Court records show Reed violated curfew and movement restrictions multiple times in the days leading up to the alleged CTA attack.

During the earlier hearing, Molina-Gonzalez told prosecutors, “I can’t keep everybody in jail because the State’s Attorney wants me to.” Critics argue that repeat offenders continue to be released under policies they say are too lenient.

Shortly before Trump’s remarks, the White House commented on the attack on X, stating, “Liberal soft-on-crime policies are FAILING American communities and endangering law-abiding citizens. A career criminal with 72 arrests should have never been free to roam the streets. Pray for Bethany.”

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