Need to Knows
- President Trump said Chicago will “likely be next” in his federal crackdown on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration.
- He compared the plan to Washington, D.C., where 2,000 troops have been deployed under federal orders.
- Illinois leaders, including Gov. Pritzker, Sen. Durbin, and Sen. Duckworth, condemned the move as a political stunt and authoritarian overreach.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted major drops in violent crime, pushing for investments in housing, health, and community programs over militarization.
Trump Calls Out Chicago as “Next” for Federal Action, Claims Black Women Pleaded for His Arrival
President Donald Trump on Friday said Chicago will likely be the next target of his federal efforts to crack down on crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration. Speaking from the White House, Trump indicated that Chicago could face the same treatment as Washington, D.C., where 2,000 troops have already been deployed to patrol the streets.
“I think Chicago will be our next,” Trump told reporters, before adding: “And then we’ll help with New York.”
The Pentagon confirmed that troops in D.C. were ordered to begin carrying firearms, despite no reported threats requiring them to do so.
Trump has repeatedly described Democratic-led cities with Black mayors and majority-minority populations as “dangerous” and “filthy.” On Friday, he singled out Chicago as a “mess,” claiming residents were “screaming for us to come” despite recent data showing historic declines in violent crime.
Trump Claims Black Women Asked Him to Intervene
The president attempted to frame his remarks as a response to community demand, insisting that “African American ladies, beautiful ladies” personally begged him to bring troops to Chicago.
“They’re wearing red hats just like this… African American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, ‘Please, President Trump, come to Chicago. Please,’” Trump said.
He went on to tout his performance with Black voters, despite the fact that nearly 85% supported his 2024 opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, over 90% of Black Women voted against Trump…because we’re always saving this country.
— R. Saoirse (@razzli_) August 22, 2025
Illinois Leaders Condemn “Authoritarian” Threats
Trump’s comments quickly drew backlash across Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker mocked the president in a post titled “Things People Are Begging For,” listing cheaper groceries, Medicaid protection, and transparency on Jeffrey Epstein’s files — but not “an authoritarian power grab of major cities.”
Sen. Dick Durbin called Trump’s D.C. crackdown “political theater” and emphasized that Chicago is “a beautiful, vibrant city” where real solutions should be bipartisan. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Army combat veteran, criticized Trump’s “misuse of the military to intimidate Americans in our own communities.”
Lisa Hernandez, chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, called the president’s remarks “offensive and false,” saying they echo a racist history of painting urban centers as violent.
Community Pushback: “Stay Out of Our City”
Local leaders emphasized that militarization is not the answer. Pastor Donovan Price, who works with victims of gun violence, urged the federal government to let communities handle their own safety: “Stay out of our city. This is not a federal issue. We live this every day. We know what our community needs.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stressed that his administration’s strategy is already producing results. In the first half of 2025, shootings and homicides dropped by more than 30%, with overall violent crime down 22% compared to the same time last year. Johnson attributed the progress to investments in mental health, affordable housing, wage increases, and community-based anti-violence programs.
“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.”
He also accused Trump of hypocrisy for cutting $158 million in federal violence-prevention funding while now calling for military intervention.
Activists Warn of “State-Sanctioned Terrorism”
Civil rights groups say Trump’s crackdown is less about safety and more about political theater. Angela Angel, senior advisor for Black Lives Matter PAC, described his approach as “state-sanctioned terrorism with a badge,” pointing to masked ICE raids, unlawful arrests, and the brutalization of activists during earlier deployments.
She noted the historical reversal, comparing Trump’s actions in 2025 with 1965, when federal troops were sent to protect Black civil rights protesters in Selma, Alabama. “Now Trump is using troops to carry out violence against Black and Brown communities,” Angel said. “That’s the danger.”
