Trump Plans National Guard Deployment to Chicago Amid Official Opposition

President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago as part of a federal crackdown on crime, following similar actions taken in Washington, D.C. Trump described Chicago as a "mess" and criticized its mayor, Brandon Johnson, calling him incompetent, while asserting that residents, including African American women, are requesting federal intervention. The Pentagon reportedly plans to send thousands of troops as soon as September, potentially including ICE agents targeting illegal migrants. Chicago officials, including Mayor Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have strongly condemned the move, calling it uncoordinated, politically motivated, and likely to inflame tensions between communities and law enforcement. Critics have also pointed out that violent crime in Chicago and other targeted cities is trending downward, and that Trump would face significant legal and political obstacles deploying troops in cities beyond Washington, D.C. The conflict highlights a broader national debate over federal intervention in local policing and crime policies amid claims of rising urban violence.