Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to send troops to Chicago. He said the decision is an abuse of power.
Pritzker insisted no emergency justifies bringing the National Guard into Illinois. He accused Trump of fabricating a crisis for political ends.
Trump already deployed about 2,000 troops to Washington DC. The capital’s Democratic leadership has opposed the move. Trump frames the deployment as part of a wider fight against crime in American cities.
On Friday, he said Chicago and New York could be the next targets.
Chicago mayor rejects federal interference
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he received no official notice of National Guard deployment. He voiced grave concern about the plan. He called it uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.
Johnson warned the move could inflame tensions between residents and police. He added it might undo the city’s progress in reducing crime.
Pentagon reverses course on arming troops
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered National Guard troops in Washington DC to carry weapons. The order marked a reversal of earlier Pentagon policy. Just last week, officials said the troops would remain unarmed.
So far, the Guard has not joined law enforcement operations. Federal agencies and city police continue those responsibilities. Guardsmen remain positioned near landmarks such as the National Mall and Union Station.
The Pentagon said troops will carry weapons in line with mission and training. It remains uncertain whether this means a broader role.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has not commented on the decision.
Trump claims success and threatens national emergency
Trump declared the Washington deployment a success. He said the city was unsafe before the Guard arrived but is now secure. He praised the mission and suggested expanding it to Chicago.
He announced that 1,700 Guardsmen will mobilise across 19 states in the coming weeks. Texas will host the largest force. The Guard will support immigration enforcement and serve as a deterrent.
Trump also said he may declare a national emergency once the 30-day deployment ends. That would allow him to keep troops indefinitely. He stressed he would use the measure if conditions did not improve.
Local opposition grows stronger
Several Republican-led states, including South Carolina and West Virginia, already sent forces. Trump also promised to seek $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington. Earlier this year, lawmakers cut the city’s budget by $1.1 billion.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reported more than 700 arrests since the mission began. She said 91 illegal firearms had been seized, including 40 arrests on Thursday.
Local leaders questioned the need for federal intervention. Mayor Bowser pointed to a major crime decline, calling it the lowest level in 30 years.
A Washington Post and Schar School poll showed strong resistance. Nearly 80 percent of residents opposed the National Guard deployment and federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.
