Many people are talking about the troubling intentions ofDonald Trumpto deploy federal troops toChicagonext, basically disregarding local leaders in the process. This comment came from Hakeem Jeffries, who’s a prominent Democratic figure, during an interview on Sunday while discussing the White House’s escalating plans to military enhance various US cities.
TheHouse minority leader,Jeffries, slammed Trump, accusing him of “playing games with the lives of Americans” through his unique domestic military operations. These endeavors have escalated significantly, even involving the arming of troops now stationed in Washington, DC, following the dispatch of military personnel to Los Angeles back in June.
Chicago’s MayorBrandon Johnson voiced his concerns, stating that Trump’s possible deployment of federal troops represents “the most flagrant violation of our constitution in the 21st century.”
Last Friday,Pentagon officials confirmed to Fox News that they were preparing to mobilize around 1,700 National Guard members across 19 predominantly Republican states. This move ties into Trump’s strict anti-immigration policies, aimed at providing support to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with necessary”logistical and clerical functions.”
Related:Trump targets Chicago and New York in latest crime strategy
Supporting the concerns raised by Democratic Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, Jeffries mentioned that Trump was “abusing his power” with talk of sending National Guard into Chicago, unnecessarily raising tensions amidst the struggles American families face.
Typically, the National Guard operates under state authority, only getting federal backing during national emergencies or when a governor requests assistance.
In a candid moment on CNN, Jeffries argued for maintaining solidarity with local law enforcement instead of allowing Trump to turn this situation into a media spectacle that distracts from his poor approval ratings.
Jeffries echoed Pritzker’s stance, asserting there is “no basis, no authority” for Trump to consider sending federal troops to Chicago.
Reportedly, the White House has been strategizing about sending additional troops to Chicago, aiming to address issues such as crime, homelessness, and immigration in a city where Democratic values reign.
Pritzker, in his statement released on Saturday, clearly articulated, “The State of Illinois has received no requests or outreach from the federal government for assistance, nor have we asked for federal intervention at this time.”
Trump contends that a military presence is essential to combat what he describes as overwhelming crime rates, despite existing data portraying a decline in serious criminal acts in both Washington and other American cities.
While discussing operations with media in the Oval Office, Trump asserted, “the people in Chicago are screaming for us to come” as he reaffirmed his commitment to deploying troops there, and hinted at subsequent support for New York.
“Once we are set, we’ll roll out in Chicago… it’s a total mess there,” Trump stated.
However, Mayor Johnson noted during an MSNBC interview that shootings in Chicago have plummeted nearly 40% over the past year, thus raising concerns about the legality of any federal efforts to undermine local leadership.
Johnson said, “this petulant behavior proposed by the president might stand out as the most blatant constitutional breach we’ve seen in this century.”
While California attempted to sue the federal government for deploying troops during protests against ICE actions in Los Angeles back in June, the court ultimately refused to impede military presence.
Trump’s choice of major cities heavily features largely Democratic-leaning areas led by Black mayors—these include Chicago, New York, Baltimore, and more.
Related: Trump continues to boast about crime policies during meetings with law enforcement
On CNN, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel urged recalling that during two presidential terms, Trump has strictly used military deployments domestically rather than focusing efforts overseas.
Emanuel reflected, saying if he were still in office, he would want to work collaboratively with the President to address public safety regarding carjackings, gun violence, and gang activity rather than resembling an occupied city.
He further pointed out that “Trump is allowing political hatred toward Democrats to seep into his actions,” suggesting that this approach might confirm those sentiments.
Recently during a rally in Iowa, Trump complained of specific Congressional Democrats, a situation reflecting strain in forwarding his ambitious policy agenda which targets tax cuts favoring the wealthy and aggressive pushes against immigration.
