Political leaders in Chicago have vocally criticized President Donald Trump’s suggestion to potentially deploy National Guard troops to the city as a measure to combat crime.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his disapproval, describing Trump’s approach as “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.”
He warned that the “unlawful deployment” of National Guard troops could heighten tensions between residents and law enforcement.
In an appearance on MSNBC, Johnson emphasized that the city does not need a military presence and labeled the proposed action as a clear violation of the Constitution.
He asserted, “We’re going to remain firm and vigilant in our commitment to ensure that our democracy is protected and our humanity is secured.”
Statistics shared by Mayor Johnson highlighted that Chicago has recently experienced a decline in certain violent crimes, including a significant 30% decrease in homicides and a nearly 40% decline in shootings over the past year.
This context comes in contrast to Trump’s previous decisions, such as his deployment of hundreds of National Guard members to Washington, D.C., earlier in August, which he framed as a strategy to reduce crime and address homelessness.
However, reports indicate that violent crime in D.C. is at its lowest level in three decades, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser.
In a press briefing, President Trump characterized Chicago as “a mess” and criticized Mayor Johnson as “grossly incompetent,” stating that he would seek to “straighten that one out” in the near future.
Following the discussions around Chicago, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to suggest he might also send in “the ‘troops'” to Baltimore, after an invitation from Maryland Governor Wes Moore to engage on public safety policies.
Amid these developments, a report from the Washington Post revealed that the Pentagon had been preparing for a military intervention in Chicago for several weeks, potentially involving thousands of National Guard members and possibly even active-duty troops.
This would not be the first instance of federal military action on American soil, as the Trump administration previously sent approximately 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles during immigration enforcement protests—a move that sparked legal concerns from California officials.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also condemned Trump’s threats, arguing that they reveal a troubling test of power and a precursor to a police state.
He stated, “Illinois has long worked with federal law enforcement to tackle crime, but we won’t let a dictator impose his will.”
Pritzker further clarified that Illinois had not requested any federal intervention, asserting that there was no state emergency requiring the deployment of National Guard or military resources.
image source from：npr
