Illinois Officials Slam Trump’s National Guard Threat for Chicago

Chicago and Illinois leaders are vehemently opposing a recent suggestion by former President Trump to deploy National Guard troops to the city to combat crime. The proposal, made late last week, has ignited a political firestorm, with Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker leading the charge against federal intervention.

Mayor Johnson, a Democrat, issued a statement on Friday calling Trump’s approach “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound,” warning that an “unlawfully deploying” of the National Guard could escalate tensions between residents and law enforcement. Speaking on MSNBC on Sunday, Johnson reiterated, “The city of Chicago does not need a military occupation… This is clearly a violation of the Constitution.” He also cited city data indicating a significant drop in violent crimes, including a 30% reduction in homicides and a 40% decline in shootings over the past year.

Governor Pritzker echoed the mayor’s sentiments, posting on X Saturday that Trump’s “threat to bring the National Guard to Chicago isn’t about safety — it’s a test of the limits of his power and a trial run for a police state.” He emphasized that Illinois has not requested federal intervention and that no emergency warrants such a deployment.

Trump, who deployed National Guard members to Washington, D.C. earlier in August, reportedly told reporters on Friday that he considered Chicago “a mess” with an “incompetent mayor” and vowed to “straighten that one out probably next.” The Washington Post also reported Saturday evening that the Pentagon has been planning a potential military intervention in Chicago for weeks.

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