President Donald Trump said he plans to send National Guard to Chicago after the city was hit with violence over Labor Day weekend.
Chicago mayor signs ordering Trump refuses to deploy threatened troops
Mayor Brandon Johnson said Chicago police would not work with National Guard or federal agents if President Trump deployed them to the city.
- President Donald Trump said he plans to send National Guard to Chicago after the city was hit with violence over Labor Day weekend.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order to prevent city police from supporting federal agents.
- The Trump administration is also preparing to send more ice officers for immigration enforcement efforts in the city.
President Donald Trump has declared plans for him to send the National Guard to Chicago after the city went through a violent Labor Day weekend.
“We’re going in,” Trump said at a briefing in the oval office on September 2nd.
“Look, I have an obligation,” the president told reporters. “This is not political. I have an obligation.”
Trump’s comments come after California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Illinois JB Pretzker, whom he is responsible for, and has repeatedly targeted all Democratic governors, the 2028 presidential candidate.
Chicago police said at least eight people were killed and another 58 were injured in shootings in the city over the weekend, according to multiple reports. Trump refers to the fatal holiday weekend, calling Chicago “the world’s worst and most dangerous city” in his post on True Society.
“Pritzker needs help so badly, he doesn’t know that yet,” Trump said. “We’ll solve the crime problem quickly, like we did with DC. Chicago will be safe again and soon safe. Make America great again!”
The president later continued with another true social post, declaring, “Chicago is the murderous capital of the world!” It is unclear when the president will be able to send his troops.
The weekend violence said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on August 30, saying, “how to stand up against this tyranny.” The mayor said Chicago police will not support the National Guard with immigration enforcement or related activities such as traffic stops and Manning Checkpoints, according to the order.
“This is a very clear distinction between what our law enforcement is doing and what our federal agents are engaged in,” Johnson said at a news conference. “This president is not going to invite our police station.”
Chicago reported 278 murders in 2025, according to city data. The city’s violent crime rate has declined by 22% compared to the same period a year ago. The statistics are similar to the July Criminal Justice Report Council, indicating that most categories of crime have declined in other cities across the United States.
The Trump administration is also preparing to send more ice to Chicago.
Trump had previously threatened to send troops to Chicago, as he did in Washington, DC and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Chicago was also decorated for federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Illinois Lt. Col. Juliana Stratton told CNN on September 2 that immigration and customs enforcement officers were coming to Chicago this week.
“This isn’t about public safety, it’s not about making residents safer. What Donald Trump wants to happen is that he wants to manufacture the crisis,” Stratton said. “He wants to be able to cause some sort of crisis where he can say he’s coming to rescue.”
Illinois Sen. Chuy Garcia, a Democrat representing Chicago, told CNN on September 2 that Trump’s move is a distraction tactic to distract him from “mass violations” of the Epsteinfiles, California’s constituency and Texas’ voting rights.
“It’s very clear that what the president is doing is not public safety. It’s not about law and order. It’s a show of power. It’s about blackmailing, it’s about controlling and instilling fear in cities that oppose him,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, one city leader, 15th Ward mayor Raymond Lopez, posted on social media on September 2nd, criticising fellow city and state leaders for allowing the National Guard to come to Chicago after a violent weekend.
“If @potus is paying, the National Guard should come here. We will protect assets and high-priority targets, not our community. Goals!”
Contributed by Francescachamers
