The Pentagon is reportedly planning to deploy military forces in Chicago as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration, according to a Washington Post report citing officials familiar with the matter.
Trump has openly signaled that Chicago is next on his list after Washington, D.C., where federal control over the police force was enforced earlier this month under the Home Rule Act, followed by the deployment of the National Guard.
“Chicago’s a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent. And we’ll straighten that one out probably next,” Trump said on Friday, suggesting Chicago would be the next city to face direct intervention.
Long-Term Plans and ICE Coordination
According to the report, military intervention in Chicago has been “long in planning” and is expected to coincide with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations aimed at locating undocumented migrants in Illinois.
Political Backlash
The move has sparked sharp criticism from Democratic leaders. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused Trump of trying to “create chaos” in Democratic states.
“After using Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as his testing ground for authoritarian overreach, Trump is now openly flirting with the idea of taking over other states and cities,” Pritzker said.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned the plan, calling it “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.”
Critics argue the president’s strategy is aimed at instilling fear and undermining local public safety structures to justify expanding federal power.
New York Also in Trump’s Crosshairs
Trump has further indicated that New York could be the next city to face federal intervention, particularly after Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic leader, won the mayoral election.
No Formal Orders Yet
Despite Trump’s remarks, no official communication or formal order has yet been issued regarding the deployment of military forces to Chicago, the report noted.
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