While speaking at the White House turkey pardon event, President Trump criticized Illinois Democrats for being soft on crime after a man with a lengthy criminal history set a woman on fire in Chicago. He targeted former President Joe Biden and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, calling the governor a “big fat slob” and accusing him of incompetence. Trump expressed frustration over the state’s opposition to deploying the National Guard to Chicago, stating, “He ought to invite us in and say, ‘Please make Chicago safe.'” The president mentioned the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration and crime, though the Pentagon later withdrew them due to lawsuits. Trump falsely claimed that Washington DC has gone from having one or two homicides a week to no murders in six months, despite data showing 123 murders this year. The victim, identified as Bethany MaGee, was set on fire by Lawrence Reed, a 50-year-old with 72 prior arrests, who faces federal terrorism charges. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned Chicago’s policies for allowing repeat offenders to roam the streets.