Trump Plans Federal Crackdown Deploying Department of War in Chicago

President Trump has escalated his rhetoric towards Chicago by posting an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself as a character from the film Apocalypse Now, accompanied by the phrase "Chipocalypse Now" and the line "I love the smell of deportations in the morning." This post coincides with planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Chicago, where around 300 federal agents are staging operations from Naval Station Great Lakes, with potential National Guard deployment. Trump rebranded the Department of Defense as the Department of War and has threatened to use federal troops in Chicago as part of his broader immigration and crime crackdown, citing high rates of violence in the city. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have condemned these actions, urging peaceful protests and warning they will legally contest any illegal federal law enforcement activities. Pritzker also criticized the timing of the raids, coinciding with Mexican Independence Day celebrations, and described Trump's approach as terrorizing the community. The situation reflects a significant federal-state conflict over immigration enforcement and public safety measures in Chicago.