President Donald Trump has recently asserted that he does not intend to “go to war” with American cities, but instead aims to “clean them up.” This declaration comes amid his comments regarding a potential plan to send National Guard troops into U.S. metropolitan areas, purportedly to combat crime and assist with deportations of suspected undocumented immigrants.
During a press briefing on Sunday, Trump was questioned about his intentions towards cities like Chicago, following a provocative post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
In response, he clarified, “We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities… so they don’t kill five people every weekend. That’s not war, that’s common sense.”
The previous day, Trump had posted an alarming message online, referring to Chicago as “about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” This post showcased an image of Trump styled to resemble Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore from the 1979 Vietnam War film *Apocalypse Now.*
Reacting to Trump’s inflammatory statements, Illinois’ Democratic Governor JB Pritzker condemned the rhetoric, stating that Trump is “threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.” Pritzker further characterized Trump as a “scared man” rather than a strongman, insisting that Illinois would not succumb to the intimidation of a “wannabe dictator.”
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized Trump’s comments, asserting that they were “beneath the honor of our nation” and suggesting that Trump aims to “occupy our city” and disrupt the Constitution.
In recent weeks, Trump has suggested sending National Guard troops to Chicago, framing their involvement as necessary assistance to combat rampant crime. However, local officials, including the mayor, dispute this narrative, insisting that crime rates in the city—particularly homicides, shootings, and carjackings—are on the decline.
In addition to Chicago, Trump has mentioned deploying National Guard members to other cities, including Baltimore and New Orleans, despite similar crime rate trends demonstrating declines in these areas. All three affected cities are strongly Democratic.
The proposed deployment of National Guard troops has also drawn legal challenges; a federal judge ruled last week that Trump’s previous use of the National Guard in Los Angeles was unlawful and violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies.
In August, Trump took control of the Washington, D.C. police force and sent National Guard personnel onto the streets, despite opposition from local leaders. The federal government holds greater authority over D.C. than it does over other cities, due to its unique status.
Chicago residents have voiced their opposition to Trump’s plans. Over the weekend, demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Chicago, marching past Trump Tower and chanting slogans like, “No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here.”
Events in Chicago included a parade celebrating Mexican Independence Day, where locals expressed their commitment to stand firm in support of their communities amid perceived threats.
Liliana Scales, a parade attendee, articulated her sense of solidarity, stating, “We’re here. We’re not going away. No matter what generation, no matter what threat, no matter what president is in office — we’re not going away.”
As the debate continues, the implications of Trump’s orders and the responses from local leaders and citizens will shape the discourse around federal intervention in urban areas.
image source from：npr
