Chicago Mayor Rejects Federal Troop Deployment Amid Rising Crime
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson, who oversees a city grappling with the highest homicide rates nationwide, has turned down the Trump administration’s proposal to deploy federal troops to address violent crime.
Following his military intervention in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump suggested sending troops to several major cities, including Chicago, to help reduce crime levels. He mentioned last month that he aimed to “straighten out” Chicago, Illinois.
“What the President is proposing would be the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st Century. The City of Chicago does not need a military occupation,” Johnson tweeted in response.
During the recent Labor Day weekend, Chicago faced a surge of violence, with over 54 individuals shot in various incidents—eight of which were fatal. Most of these cases have led to no arrests, according to reports.
In response to the alarming statistics, Trump declared on Truth Social, “I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in D.C. Chicago will be safe again, and soon.”
He reiterated his plans while addressing reporters at the White House.
“We’re going in,” he stated. “This isn’t a political thing; I have an obligation,” explaining that the recent wave of violence—including 20 fatalities over a brief period—is unacceptable.
In a press conference, Mayor Johnson shared his perspective on tackling crime, asserting that the real issue stems from Republican-led states allowing easier access to firearms.
“There are measures that the federal government can take right now to help continue to drive down violence and crime in our city,” he said. “We need the federal government to stop the endless flow of guns into our state and into our city.”
While acknowledging the efforts of city police in seizing thousands of guns, Johnson remarked that “the vast majority of guns do not come from Chicago.”
“They are not made in Cook County. They are not bought in the state of Illinois. These guns come from red states,” he pointed out.
He specifically cited Indiana, Louisiana, and Mississippi as key contributors to the influx of guns in Illinois.
Johnson noted, “Chicago will continue to have a violence problem as long as red states continue to have a gun problem. Occupying our city will do nothing to solve this problem.”
Recent data from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that the majority of firearms recovered in Illinois originated within the state itself, followed by Indiana.
Johnson’s claim that most guns involved in crimes are acquired illegally suggests a troubling reality: even with existing gun laws, firearms remain accessible through theft or illegal purchases.
