After D.C. takeover, Trump suggests Chicago is next
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President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office on Aug. 22 as Vice President JD Vance and FIFA president Gianni Infantino look on. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFT/Getty Images
President Trump signaled Chicago could be the next city to see federal law enforcement or military troops deployed to fight violent crime.
Why it matters: The language Trump used Friday is the strongest indication yet that the federal government is planning to deploy troops to one of the country's biggest cities.
What they're saying: "Chicago is a mess," Trump said during a FIFA World Cup media event in the Oval Office. "The people in Chicago are screaming for us to come."
- "I think Chicago will be our next and then we'll help with New York."
The other side: Trump is using the threat of a military takeover against Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom he calls "grossly incompetent," and against Gov. JB Pritzker, who has become a possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidate.
- Johnson fired back at Trump, saying his office hasn't received formal communication about plans for deployment in Chicago.
- "He does not have the legal authority to do it," Johnson said about sending troops during a recent press conference. "As mayor of the city of Chicago and as someone who understands the premise of our Constitution, we are justified in our resistance to his authoritarianism."
Pritzker also lambasted Trump, saying people are begging for cheaper groceries and the release of the Epstein files.
- "Things People are NOT begging for: An authoritarian power grab of major cities," Pritzker posted on X.
Reality check: While violent crime is still a big issue in Chicago, homicide rates have dropped 31% year over year, mirroring similar drops in other cities.
Yes, but: Trump and D.C. police officials are touting huge drops in crime since the National Guard was deployed 11 days ago.
Zoom in: Trump also suggested the Black community in Chicago wants him to act.
- "I did great with the Black vote, as you know, and they want something to happen," Trump added.
Context: During Trump's first term, he directed the Department of Justice to enact "Operation Legend" in Chicago, which brought over 100 agents to the city to fight violent crime.
What's next: It's unclear if Trump has the right to deploy the National Guard in U.S. states. While D.C. has different laws on how it interacts with the federal government, Chicago is under the jurisdiction of the state of Illinois.
- A federal judge is supposed to rule soon on whether or not the president has the authority to override a state's governor to deploy the National Guard.
The bottom line: Trump has threatened to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago before, but now that he has done it in D.C., it could become a reality.