Trump says Chicago is ‘probably next’ target for National Guard troops

ABC 7 Chicago

(8-23-25) President Trump has said his next move to help fight crime will be in Chicago. But Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritker have said that Chicago Police or Illinois State Troopers will not cooperate with that plan.

Read comments below on Facebook from the Mayor’s posting-

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EE9kXWRBR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Asked If He Is Willing To Cut His And His Wife’s Security Detail

Forbes Breaking News

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about safety of people in Chicago.

He never answers the question that he was asked.

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From GOOGLE AI –

While a timeline is unclear, President Donald Trump has stated that Chicago will “probably” be the next target for a federal crackdown on crime, following the model used in Washington, D.C.. Illinois officials, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor J.B. Pritzker, have pushed back, questioning the legality of such a move and stating that local law enforcement is not requesting it. 

What Trump said

  • Announcement: On Friday, August 22, 2025, Trump told reporters at the White House that Chicago was likely next for a federal crackdown, calling the city “a mess” and its mayor “incompetent”.
  • Justification: Trump claimed without evidence that Chicago residents were “screaming for us to come” and argued that crime was out of control.
  • Comparison to D.C.: The president suggested Chicago could receive similar treatment to Washington, D.C., where he deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and federal agents.
  • Potential action: Trump mentioned the possibility of deploying the National Guard and federal law enforcement, and did not rule out using the active-duty military. 

Response from Illinois officials

  • Official statement: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement calling any potential deployment of National Guard troops “unlawful,” “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound”. He emphasized that deploying troops could inflame tensions and undermine progress in reducing crime.
  • Decreasing crime statistics: Mayor Johnson pointed to Chicago police statistics showing significant decreases in homicides, robberies, and shootings throughout 2025. Crime data in D.C. was also already declining before the federal deployment there.
  • Governor’s stance: Governor J.B. Pritzker stated his concern about a potential “authoritarian power grab” and has made it clear he is not interested in such a deployment.
  • Legal limitations: State National Guard units are generally under the command of state governors, not the president. D.C.’s unique status as a federal district gives the president more authority there than in a state like Illinois. 

Broader context

  • Trump’s history with Chicago: Trump has criticized Chicago’s crime rates for a decade, including on the campaign trail, and in 2017 he threatened to “send in the feds”.
  • Legal challenges: Federal law prohibits the use of military personnel for civilian law enforcement except when authorized by law, such as through the Insurrection Act. The deployment of National Guard troops in other cities has faced legal challenges.
  • No official communication: As of August 23, 2025, the city of Chicago has not received any formal communication from the Trump administration regarding additional law enforcement or military deployments.