Chicago officials are pushing back against reports that the Pentagon is preparing to deploy military forces to the city at the direction of President Donald Trump.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued strong statements Sunday rejecting the move, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
The controversy began after the Washington Post reported that Chicago could be next in the Trump administration’s plan to crack down on crime by deploying federal troops. Just a day earlier, Trump himself suggested Chicago might face such action, sparking concerns among city and state leaders.
Gov. Pritzker said his administration has received no request or outreach from the federal government and stressed that Illinois has made no request for intervention. “The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President federalizing the Illinois National Guard, deploying forces from other states, or sending active duty military here,” he said.
Pritzker accused Trump of attempting to “manufacture a crisis” and “politicize Americans who serve in uniform” while distracting from economic hardship facing families. He vowed Illinois would “stand up for the sovereignty of our state and protect the people of Illinois.”
Mayor Johnson echoed that stance, pledging to resist what he described as unconstitutional federal overreach. “Chicago is not calling for a military occupation of our city. We are currently evaluating all of our legal options to protect the people of Chicago,” he said. Johnson highlighted the city’s progress in reducing violence, citing a 30% drop in homicides, a 35% decrease in robberies, and nearly 40% fewer shootings over the past year. “No matter what happens, the City of Chicago will not waver. We are Chicago. We will not bend or cower, and we will never break.”
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton also issued a forceful rebuke, accusing Trump of seeking chaos for political gain. “Crime in Chicago is declining and there’s absolutely no rationale for this decision other than to distract from the pain Trump is inflicting on working families with his dangerous agenda,” Stratton said.
Legal experts warn such a deployment would likely be unlawful. Joe Ferguson, president of the Civic Federation of Chicago and a former city inspector general, said the use of the military for domestic law enforcement is restricted by federal law, with rare exceptions such as insurrection. “We’re living in an age in which what is happening out of Washington is irrespective of whether something … would appear to be unlawful or unconstitutional,” Ferguson said.
The White House has not publicly confirmed the reported plans.
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