Chicago — President Donald Trump has vowed to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago in response to rising violent crime, setting up a direct confrontation with Illinois officials who say they will resist the move.
Speaking from the White House, Trump pointed to a deadly Labor Day weekend in Chicago that left at least eight people dead and dozens wounded. “We’re going in. I didn’t say when,” he declared, insisting he has the authority to act without the state’s request.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker fired back, calling the plan a “reality game show” meant to score political points. He stressed that no orders have been issued to activate the Guard and warned against staging federal troops or equipment on Illinois soil without state approval. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed the governor’s stance, stating firmly, “No federal troops in the city of Chicago.”
The proposal has also sparked legal concerns. Critics argue that deploying the National Guard for law enforcement duties without state consent could violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of the military in domestic policing. Trump’s earlier deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. are already facing legal challenges, and observers expect another court battle if the Chicago plan proceeds.
Public opinion remains divided. Some Chicago residents and local Republicans support the idea, citing fears over crime, while veterans’ groups and Guard members have spoken out against it. “We show up when the flood hits, not for civilian policing,” one Guard member told Axios.
With Trump pressing ahead and Illinois leaders refusing to back down, the standoff highlights a broader clash over federal authority, state sovereignty, and the role of the military in civilian life.
