Chicago Marathon looks to defy Trump's "hellhole" narrative
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Runners compete at the start of the 2024 Chicago Marathon. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Nearly 2 million spectators are expected to line Chicago streets to watch the marathon on Sunday, providing a stark contrast to the Trump administration's negative messaging about the city.
Why it matters: President Trump's barrage of incendiary and negative language, plus social media posts showing clashes between protesters and ICE agents, is giving the impression that the city is unsafe and unstable.
- The false narrative could have a lasting impact on tourism and the city's reputation.
Driving the news: Earlier this week, while Trump continued his verbal assault, Condé Nast Traveler named Chicago the Best Big City in the U.S. for the ninth year in a row.
What they're saying: "At a time when negative narratives too often overshadow our reality, this distinction helps showcase the true spirit and vibrancy of our city to the world," Choose Chicago's Kristen Reynolds said at a press conference this week.
- It's also a powerful driver for our tourism economy, which generates more than $20 billion annually and supports over 130,000 local jobs.
Zoom in: The Chicago Marathon is expected to bring together nearly 2 million people this Sunday, including a record number (53,000) of participants.
- In the past two weeks, over 200,000 fans attended Cubs playoff games at Wrigley Field without incident.
Reality check: Similar to Los Angeles and Portland, most of the conflict between ICE agents and protesters has happened in one tiny block, miles away from the city center.
Yes, but: ICE agents have conducted raids in Chicago neighborhoods, which have led to isolated clashes with protesters in Brighton Park and Logan Square.
- And last weekend, 25 people were shot and 5 were killed from gun violence.
Worth noting: Fears over ICE agents or the National Guard being active near the Chicago Marathon have been quelled by the Department of Homeland Security.
- "ICE does not conduct operations at sensitive locations, such as public events," a DHS spokesperson told the Sun-Times.
The bottom line: This week's major events and accolades make it hard to reconcile that a city described by Trump as a "hellhole" or a "war zone" can safely and freely attract massive amounts of people.