President Donald Trump said Friday that Chicago will “probably” be the next city where his administration deploys federal troops, officers, and agents.
Newsweek reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office via phone on Friday.
Why It Matters
Earlier this month, Trump announced that federal troops would be sent to Washington, D.C., claiming the nation’s capital had been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”
That move represented an unprecedented federal intervention in the local governance of D.C., sparking sharp criticism over constitutional boundaries and home rule. Opponents warned the action undermines democratic principles, while supporters argued it was essential for restoring public order.
What To Know
“Chicago’s a mess, you have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent,” Trump said Friday, criticizing Johnson, a Democrat and outspoken critic of the president.
“And we’ll straighten that one out probably next,” he continued. “That’ll be our next one after this … the people of Chicago, Mr. Vice President, are screaming for us to come. They’re wearing red hats.”
Trump added that African-American women had personally urged him to intervene: “Please, President Trump, come to Chicago. Please.”
The president also claimed his support among Black voters is rising. “They want something to happen. So I think Chicago will be our next and then we’ll help with New York,” he said.
Asked about how long federal troops might remain in Washington, D.C., Trump said he has not set an end date.
“I don’t know if there is a deadline because if I declare a national emergency, which this was, that ends the deadline,” Trump explained. “So, I mean, I keep seeing a 30-day deadline, of which we have 22 days left or something. But if I think we’re in great shape, you know, that’s one thing. But if I don’t, I’m going to just say it’s a national emergency and if I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want.”
What People Are Saying
Mayor Johnson’s office said it has received no formal communication from the Trump administration regarding possible military or law enforcement deployments in Chicago. “We have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops,” the mayor stated.
Donald Trump Jr. echoed his father’s stance during a Newsmax interview, saying: “Maybe we should roll out the tour to Portland, Seattle, the other craphole cities of the country.”
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois pushed back strongly, calling Chicago “a beautiful, vibrant city with people from all walks of life … These unprecedented threats from President Trump are nothing more than a power grab to distract from his disastrous policies.”
What Happens Next
Trump has not confirmed if or when federal troops will be deployed to other cities.
