Chicago Leaders Reject Trump’s Military Crime Crackdown Threat/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump suggested Chicago could be the next city targeted for his crime, immigration, and homelessness crackdown. Local leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois lawmakers, blasted the idea as unlawful, inflammatory, and politically motivated. Chicago data shows violent crime is already at its lowest in over a decade.
Chicago vs. Trump Crackdown: Quick Looks
- Trump’s Announcement: Chicago “likely next” after Washington, D.C. crackdown
- Current D.C. Tactics: 2,000 troops deployed, now ordered to carry firearms
- Mayor’s Response: Brandon Johnson warns of inflamed tensions if troops deployed
- State Leadership: Gov. JB Pritzker, Sens. Durbin & Duckworth condemn threats
- Trump Jr.’s Comments: Suggested crackdowns in Portland, Seattle, other cities
- Local Democrats: Call Trump’s rhetoric racist and politically charged
- Crime Data: Shootings, homicides down 30% in first half of 2025
- City Initiatives: Investments in housing, wages, mental health, violence prevention
- Federal Cuts: Trump previously cut $158M from anti-violence programs
- Community Voice: Pastor Donovan Price urges local, not federal, solutions
Deep Look: Chicago Pushes Back Against Trump’s Crime Crackdown Threat
CHICAGO — President Donald Trump reignited his long-running feud with the city of Chicago on Friday, declaring that the nation’s third-largest city could be the next target of his administration’s aggressive crackdowns on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration.
Speaking at the White House, Trump suggested Chicago might soon face a federal intervention similar to Washington, D.C., where 2,000 troops patrol the streets under his orders.
“I think Chicago will be our next,” Trump told reporters, adding that New York could follow.
The announcement immediately sparked outrage among Illinois officials, who condemned the suggestion as an unlawful and counterproductive escalation.
Federal Approach vs. Local Autonomy
Trump’s comments came just as the Pentagon ordered troops in D.C. to carry firearms — despite no direct threats necessitating such action. The move raised alarms in Chicago, where leaders say a similar approach could worsen tensions between law enforcement and communities already working to reduce violence.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office has received no formal notice of any deployment but warned that “unlawful deployment of National Guard troops” could inflame distrust. He called Trump’s plan “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.”
It is unclear how Trump could exert the same federal authority in Chicago as in Washington, where home-rule laws give the federal government broader powers.
Strong Pushback from Illinois Leaders
Gov. JB Pritzker mocked Trump’s priorities in a post on X, listing things residents are actually “begging for”: lower grocery prices, protection of Medicaid, and release of Epstein-related files. What they are not asking for, he said, is “an authoritarian power grab of major cities.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, dismissed Trump’s strategy as “political theater” meant to distract from policy failures. He praised Chicago as “a beautiful, vibrant city” and urged bipartisan crime reduction strategies instead of military intimidation.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran, condemned Trump’s “misuse of the military to intimidate Americans.”
Lisa Hernandez, chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, described Trump’s rhetoric as echoing “racist narratives about urban crime,” while adding: “Chicagoans are not begging for him.”
Trump Family Adds Fuel
Donald Trump Jr., in a Newsmax interview, extended his father’s rhetoric, saying the administration should consider a “tour” of Pacific Northwest cities. He disparaged Portland, Seattle, and others as “craphole cities,” blaming Democrats for high crime.
The Reality: Crime Declining in Chicago
Trump’s characterization of Chicago as a city in chaos stands in stark contrast to current data. Violent crime has dropped sharply in 2025, marking the steepest decline in more than a decade. Shootings and homicides fell by more than 30% in the first half of the year compared to 2024. Overall violent crime fell by over 22%.
Mayor Johnson credits investments in housing, education, mental health services, wage increases, and community-based safety programs for driving reductions. He argued that if Trump truly wants to help, he should restore $158 million in violence-prevention funding his administration previously cut.
“There are many things the federal government could do to help us reduce crime and violence in Chicago,” Johnson said. “But sending in the military is not one of them.”
Local Voices: Community Knows Best
Grassroots leaders echoed that sentiment. Pastor Donovan Price, who works closely with victims of gun violence, stressed that Chicago’s solutions must come from within.
“Stay out of our city,” he said. “This is not a federal issue. We live this every day. We know what our community needs.”
A Long History of Conflict
Trump’s attacks on Chicago are not new. He has repeatedly used the city as a political punching bag, comparing it to war zones like Afghanistan and threatening federal intervention since his 2016 campaign. In 2017, he warned he would “send in the feds” over gun violence, despite steady long-term declines.
For local leaders, Friday’s remarks represent more of the same: a politicized narrative that ignores progress and risks undoing fragile community trust.
As Johnson put it, Chicago is “safest when we fully invest in housing, community safety, and education” — not when it becomes a stage for federal power plays.
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