Brandon Johnson finds national spotlight battling Trump
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, left, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker during a news conference in September. Photo: Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has quietly become one of the strongest Democratic voices in the resistance to the Trump administration.
The big picture: Johnson has been forced into national politics over issues of city crime, immigration and military intervention.
Driving the news: The mayor, who has suffered low popularity numbers during the first part of his term, is now taking calls to appear on national talk shows like MSNBC and CNN, raising his profile and amplifying his message.
Zoom in: While Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has zeroed in on President Trump's attacks on freedoms and the U.S. Constitution, Johnson has gone even further, defending against Trump's attacks on the working-class and people of color.
- And it's working.
- "The Democrats shouldn't be talking about Gavin Newsom for president," a panelist said on "Roland Martin Unfiltered." "They should be looking at Mayor Brandon Johnson."
What he's said: "This is not about public safety. This is not even about immigration," Johnson said in a statement last week about expanded ICE activity. "This is a continuation of the Trump administration's war on the poor."
- "This president is off," Johnson said during a segment with host Chris Hayes on MSNBC last Wednesday. "He's literally eroded what makes our democracy so critical … to be able to peacefully assemble and to ensure that every single American has the opportunity to have a vibrant, healthy life."
- "Argentina gets $20 billion and the South Side gets nothing," Johnson said after the Department of Transportation's suspension of Red Line Expansion funding on Friday. "What happened to America First?"
The intrigue: Johnson's team has also supersized its social media presence. Just last year, the mayor didn't have much traction in places like Instagram. Now, his anti-Trump messaging is going viral.
Zoom out: Johnson, who is the son of a pastor, has shown his energy and articulateness in various press conferences and interviews, something he's struggled with while talking to local reporters about local issues.
Between the lines: Johnson's newfound popularity comes at an ideal time for his administration. Trump's accusation that Chicago is a "hellhole" and a "disaster" has put a spotlight on Johnson's successes in decreasing violent crime.
Reality check: Johnson still has his detractors, mainly city Democrats who have criticized his administration on issues over budgeting, schools and his candor with the media.
What we're watching: Whether the mayor can use some of this political goodwill as he prepares to embark on a nasty budget season that will undoubtedly feature spending cuts to fill a massive deficit.
The bottom line: While the next election is still a year and a half away, the mayor has found a lane that resonates — defending Chicago.