President Trump highlighted Chicago’s violent summer in a social media post made shortly after the dazzling July 4 fireworks display on the National Mall, comparing the city’s rising shootings to the Iran war.
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“Over 273 Americans have been Shot since the War in IRAN began…in Chicago,” Mr. Trump posted overnight on Truth Social.
The Chicago Police Department in June reported 678 shootings since the beginning of the year, a 3% increase over 2025. There were 208 murders, a 5% increase over last year.
Since 2024, however, murders and shootings have dropped by 24% and 37%, respectively.
Meanwhile, the United States and Iranian officials are in the midst of a 60-day negotiating period, as a fragile ceasefire faces challenges.
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The U.S. and Iran have lobbed strikes at each other over the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel has carried out assaults on the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, threatening to upend the peace process.
Israeli officials have said they have no intention of abiding by an agreement that they had no say in crafting.
Hundreds of American personnel have been injured and 13 have been killed since the conflict began when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February.
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