Speaking to reporters about his abysmal record and extremely low support numbers, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson dismissed criticism by claiming that President Donald Trump is “intimidated by the intellectual prowess of Black men” like him.
It’s an assertion that collapses under the weight of his own record. Johnson’s tenure has been defined not by “intellectual prowess” but by skyrocketing crime, financial mismanagement, and the rapid decline of one of America’s largest cities. He admitted just last week that under his leadership, Chicago has “reached a point of no return” financially — after spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on benefits for illegal immigrants and then floating massive tax hikes to keep the city solvent.
The idea that Trump — or any serious political figure — fears Johnson’s “brilliance” would be laughable if it weren’t paired with a track record that has driven residents and businesses to flee the city in record numbers.
Johnson’s claim also exposes the blatant double standard in political discourse. Imagine a White mayor suggesting that Barack Obama was “intimidated by the intellectual prowess of White men.” The media outrage would be immediate and unrelenting. Johnson’s remark, by contrast, will likely pass with barely a mention outside conservative circles.
Chicagoans are left with a mayor whose self-assessment could not be further from the reality facing the people he governs — a city mired in crime, fiscal chaos, and crumbling public trust.
You can watch Johnson make the comment here:
Chicago Mayor: "Trump is intimidated by the intellectual prowess of blacks like me" pic.twitter.com/4MM69lyfQ1
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 13, 2025