‘Call In The Troops…Before It Is Too Late’: Trump Says Chicago’s Shopping District Is Under Attack

President Donald Trump on Tuesday reignited the national debate about crime and economic decline in Chicago’s flagship retail corridor.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, “The Miracle Mile Shopping Center in Chicago, once considered our Nation’s BEST, now has a more than 28% vacancy factor, and is ready to call it quits unless something is done about the murder and crime, which is prevalent throughout the City. CALL IN THE TROOPS, FAST, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!”

The President was widely interpreted as addressing the Magnificent Mile, a stretch of North Michigan Avenue once celebrated as one of America’s premier shopping destinations.

Trump’s intervention came amid ongoing efforts to reverse years of commercial decline along the Magnificent Mile. Data from the Kirsch Agency showed a 29.3% vacancy rate in July 2025 — down from nearly 34% in 2023 — marking the first sustained improvement in a decade. However, that progress comes after a long period of setbacks tied to the COVID pandemic, the rise of e-commerce, and public concern over crime.

Since 2020, reduced foot traffic and shifting retail strategies have transformed the Magnificent Mile. Some brands have downsized or relocated, while landlords explore new uses such as medical offices or coworking spaces. The corridor’s total retail inventory shrank from 3.2 million square feet at the end of 2024 to 2.85 million in mid-2025

At the northern end of the avenue, Water Tower Place — a landmark nine-story mall — was surrendered to a lender in 2022 after losing major tenants. Neighboring buildings also sit vacant, driving away customer traffic and forcing nearby businesses to close. Hanig’s Footwear, a longtime local store, cited the closure of the Signature Room restaurant at the top of the former John Hancock Center as a blow to foot traffic in that sector, which sealed its decision to shut its Mag Mile location in 2025.

Parallel to economic challenges, a string of violent and high-profile incidents has kept public safety concerns front and center. In September 2025, a smash‑and‑grab burglary at a Louis Vuitton store ended in a deadly car crash after suspects attempted to flee. In August, another organized theft crew stole more than $100,000 in merchandise from a Nordstrom store, brazenly operating in daylight despite witnesses. These incidents followed earlier violent episodes, including a 2022 mass shooting near Michigan Avenue that left two dead and eight injured, and frequent robberies in years prior.

Such events feed the perception — echoed in Trump’s post — that Chicago’s core shopping area remains unsafe. City officials, police, and retail leaders argue that while perception sometimes exceeds reality, crime and instability continue to deter new investment. Trump’s call to “send in the troops” underscored the frustration of critics who see local leadership as ineffective at restoring confidence, even as data suggest the Magnificent Mile is experiencing a slow but fragile recovery.