US President Donald Trump is preparing to extend his federal crackdown to Chicago after a takeover in Washington, D.C. According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon has been working on a military deployment plan for weeks.

National Guard Could Be Sent

Officials said the plan is linked to Trump’s push against crime, illegal immigration, and homelessness. It could send “a few thousand members of the National Guard as soon as September.”

On Friday, Trump openly pointed at Chicago. He said, “Chicago’s a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent. And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That’ll be our next one after this. And it won’t even be tough.”

Long-Term Planning in Motion

Reports suggest that plans for military intervention in Chicago have been under preparation for some time. Moreover, they could work alongside ICE operations targeting undocumented migrants in the city.

Governors Push Back

However, Trump’s comments sparked strong resistance. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused him of creating unrest.
He said, “After using Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. as his testing ground for authoritarian overreach, Trump is now openly flirting with the idea of taking over other states and cities.”

Pritzker added, “Trump’s goal is to incite fear in our communities and destabilize existing public safety efforts — all to create a justification to further abuse his power.”

Chicago Mayor Raises Alarm

Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly opposed Trump’s remarks. He warned that federal intervention would only worsen the city’s challenges. Johnson argued that local leaders were already working on crime prevention, housing programs, and community safety measures.

He said, “The problem with the President’s approach is that it is uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.” Johnson stressed that Chicago needed investment in jobs, education, and social services, not troops on its streets.

Furthermore, the mayor accused Trump of undermining local governance. He noted that sending the military without consultation ignored democratic principles and disrespected the people of Chicago. According to him, heavy-handed tactics could increase tensions instead of solving them.

Johnson urged the federal government to provide resources in partnership with the city, rather than impose control from above. He made it clear that Chicago would resist any move that sidelined its elected leaders.

Illinois Governor Accuses Trump of Power Abuse

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also condemned Trump’s plan. He accused the president of trying to “create chaos” rather than restore order. Pritzker argued that Trump’s repeated threats to take over cities showed a dangerous pattern of authoritarian overreach.

He said, “After using Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. as his testing ground for authoritarian overreach, Trump is now openly flirting with the idea of taking over other states and cities.”

Moreover, Pritzker warned that the president’s actions risked destabilizing public safety efforts already underway. He emphasized that local law enforcement and community programs were making progress, but federal crackdowns could erase those gains.

According to Pritzker, Trump’s real aim was not safety but control. “Trump’s goal is to incite fear in our communities and destabilize existing public safety efforts — all to create a justification to further abuse his power,” the governor added.

He made it clear that Illinois would not accept unilateral federal action. Pritzker vowed to defend the state’s autonomy and protect its people from what he described as an unjustified takeover.