Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment Chicago Amid Pritzker Backlash

President Donald Trump has escalated tensions by threatening to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents to Chicago as part of a broader crackdown on immigration and crime in Democratic-led cities. He underscored his stance with a provocative social media post parodying the film "Apocalypse Now," dubbing the operation "Chipocalypse Now" and linking it to his executive order to rename the Defense Department the Department of War. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker strongly condemned Trump's threats, calling him a "wannabe dictator" and warning that Illinois will not be intimidated by such aggressive rhetoric. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized Trump's approach, characterizing it as an unconstitutional occupation and authoritarian move. The federal government is preparing for a significant deployment with Defense and Homeland Security coordination, including plans to station federal agents and vehicles at a naval base near Chicago. The escalating conflict highlights deepening political and ideological divisions, with Pritzker and other Democrats framing Trump's actions as an unnecessary and dangerous federal overreach into local governance.