Trump Planning Military Deployment To Chicago, Report Says
President Donald Trump plans to deploy armed forces to Chicago, drawing sharp rebuke from Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, who label the action as unnecessary and unconstitutional. Pentagon discussions may result in thousands of National Guard troops being sent to the city by September. Trump asserted that Chicago is "a mess" and criticized its leadership, despite the city experiencing a 30-year low in crime rates. Pritzker highlighted that no state request for federal assistance has been made, arguing that Trump is attempting to create a crisis for political gain.
Johnson condemned the deployment as a "flagrant violation of our Constitution" and pledged to protect Chicago from federal overreach. He referenced recent crime statistics showing significant reductions in violent crime. The legality of deploying troops to states has been questioned, particularly in light of earlier rulings on military actions in other cities. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul warned that Trump's actions risk moving the nation toward authoritarianism.