President Donald Trump is preparing to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to Chicago as early as September in a dramatic escalation of his federal crackdown on crime in Democrat-led cities, according to explosive new Pentagon reports.
The bombshell revelation comes after Trump declared on Friday that Chicago was a “mess” and vowed to “make our cities very, very safe,” with officials familiar with the matter telling the Washington Post that a military intervention in Barack Obama’s home city has been in planning for weeks.
The operation will “probably” involve Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents combing through the city’s 2.7 million residents in search of illegal migrants, sources revealed, marking a significant expansion of Trump’s domestic military deployments following similar actions in Washington DC and Los Angeles.
Trump Claims Chicagoans ‘Screaming’ for Federal Help
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump painted a picture of desperate Chicago residents begging for federal intervention, despite providing no evidence for his claims.
“They’re wearing red hats just like this one,” the Commander-in-Chief declared. “African American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying: ‘Please, President Trump, come to Chicago. Please.'”
Trump added: “I did great with the black vote, as you know, and they want something to happen. I think Chicago will be our next, and then we’ll help with New York.”
The President’s rhetoric intensified as he threatened to deploy not just the National Guard but potentially “regular military” forces, marking an unprecedented escalation in federal intervention in American cities. We haven’t had to bring in the regular military, which we’re willing to do if we have to,” Trump warned during a press conference.
Pentagon Plans Thousands of Troops for September
Pentagon officials have been secretly planning the Chicago deployment for weeks, with discussions including the mobilisation of at least a few thousand National Guard troops, according to the Washington Post. Even more controversially, officials have discussed deploying thousands of active-duty troops, though this option is currently deemed less probable.
The planned operation would mirror the contentious deployment in Los Angeles in June, where 4,000 National Guard members and 700 active duty Marines were sent to protect federal property during protests against ICE. That deployment is now the subject of a legal challenge, with California Attorney General Rob Bonta citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which bars the use of the military for domestic law enforcement.
A Defence Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters: “We won’t speculate on further operations, but can tell you that the department is a planning organisation and continues to work and plan with other agency partners to protect federal assets and personnel.”
Mayor Johnson Rejects Military Intervention
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has firmly rejected the need for military intervention, calling Trump’s approach “uncoordinated, uncalled for and unsound.” The mayor emphasised that whilst the city takes Trump’s threats seriously, no formal communication has been received from the administration about deploying troops.
There are many things the federal Government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago, but sending in the military is not one of them,” Johnson stated, warning that such a deployment could “inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement.
The mayor highlighted Chicago’s significant progress in reducing crime, noting that homicides are down more than 30%, robberies by 35%, and shootings by almost 40% over the past year. City data shows that Chicago recorded 573 homicides in 2024, the lowest in a decade, down from 615 in 2023.
Crime Statistics Contradict Trump’s ‘Mess’ Claims
Despite Trump’s characterisation of Chicago as crime-ridden, official statistics paint a dramatically different picture. Through the first half of 2025, Chicago recorded 188 homicides and 665 shootings, marking declines of 32% and 39% respectively compared to the same period last year.
The city closed out June 2025 with its fewest homicides in any June since 2014, with just 34 recorded murders – half the number from June 2024. Other violent crimes have seen similar dramatic decreases, with carjackings down 51%, robberies down 32%, and aggravated assaults down 18%.
Chicago’s success mirrors trends in other Black-led cities Trump has targeted. Washington DC, where Trump has already deployed troops, reached a 30-year low in violent crime in 2024, with homicides dropping 32% and armed carjackings falling an astonishing 53%.
Governor Pritzker Accuses Trump of ‘Manufacturing Crisis’
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has accused Trump of “attempting to manufacture a crisis” and using American service members for political purposes. In a strongly-worded statement, Pritzker said: “There is no emergency in the state of Illinois that warrants the President of the United States federalising the National Guard.”
The Democratic governor, who controls the deployment of Illinois National Guard troops within the state, made clear he has received no requests for assistance and has made no requests for federal intervention. Legal experts confirm that Trump cannot unilaterally deploy the National Guard to Illinois without the governor’s consent, except in extreme circumstances.
Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicise Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he is causing working families,” Pritzker stated.
Legal Challenges Expected
The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois has already signalled its opposition to any military deployment, with spokesman Ed Yohnka warning: “National Guard are not trained in order to be police officers, in order to collaborate and cooperate with communities. They’re trained to do militaristic operations.”
CBS News Chicago legal analyst Irv Miller confirmed that the President does not have the authority to unilaterally send the National Guard to Illinois, noting that deploying the Guard in any state is up to the governor. Any attempt by Trump to override state authority would likely face immediate legal challenges.
The controversy echoes Trump’s recent actions in Washington DC, where he deployed nearly 2,000 National Guard troops and temporarily seized control of the Metropolitan Police Department. That move is already facing a legal challenge, with DC officials arguing the takeover violates the District’s Home Rule Act.
National Guard Already Mobilising in 19 States
The Chicago plans come as National Guard members are already mobilising in 19 states to support Trump’s immigration crackdown, with up to 1,700 troops authorised for deployment. Texas will host the largest presence, with operations beginning in states including Idaho, Indiana, Iowa and Nevada during the first week of September.
In Washington DC, the Pentagon confirmed Friday that National Guard troops patrolling the capital will now carry weapons, a decision that came directly from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our Nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons,” the Pentagon stated.
Black Mayors Unite Against Trump’s Rhetoric
The targeting of Chicago adds to a pattern of Trump focusing on Black-led cities, despite their significant crime reductions. Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, president of the African American Mayors Association, noted: “It was not lost on any member of our organisation that the mayors either were Black or perceived to be Democrats.”
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott accused Trump of using crime as a “wedge issue and dog whistle” whilst cutting federal support for anti-violence programmes. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee rejected Trump’s assessment as “fearmongering,” noting her city has seen a 21% drop in homicides and 29% decrease in all violent crime.
As Trump’s September deadline approaches, Chicago prepares for what could become a constitutional showdown over federal authority versus local control, with the city’s 2.7 million residents caught in the middle of an escalating political battle over crime, race, and the limits of presidential power.
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