President Donald Trump is intensifying his law-and-order agenda with plans that may include deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, continuing a broader push to restore federal control over crime-plagued, Democrat-run cities.
The move follows a recent show of force in Washington, D.C., where more than 2,200 National Guard members and federal law enforcement were mobilized—an operation the Trump administration now views as a model for other urban centers.
Speaking Friday, Trump sharply criticized Chicago’s leadership and signaled the city could be the next target of a federal crime intervention.
“Chicago’s a mess. You have an incompetent mayor. Grossly incompetent,” Trump said, referring to Mayor Brandon Johnson.
He declared that Chicago will “be our next one after this,” following the D.C. deployment.
While the administration has yet to release specific details regarding troop numbers or deployment timelines, sources suggest plans are already under review for potential expansion of the strategy into other high-crime cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Local Officials Push Back Against Federal Involvement
Mayor Johnson responded with a statement calling the Trump administration’s approach “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound.”
He added that the city has not received any formal communication from the federal government about military or law enforcement assistance.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also weighed in, noting that neither he nor state officials had been briefed.
“Illinois has not requested federal security assistance,” he said, questioning the constitutional grounds for deploying the Guard without state approval.
Despite the political friction, Chicago’s ongoing crime wave continues to draw national attention. The city reported 573 homicides in 2024, maintaining its position as the U.S. city with the highest homicide count for the 13th straight year.
D.C. Deployment Seen as Model for Federal Action
The federal deployment in Washington, D.C. began earlier this month in response to a rise in violent crime and homelessness. Trump visited with deployed troops last week and praised the results.
“Now it’s safe,” he said. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed over 700 arrests have been made in the capital since August 11.
Trump has repeatedly criticized D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser despite acknowledging her efforts. “She has been given many chances, and the crime numbers get worse,” he wrote in an Aug. 10 Truth Social post.
He added that the new crackdown will “happen very fast” and that “there will be no ‘MR. NICE GUY.’”
