Chicago Mayor Responds to Trump’s National Guard Proposal

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson criticized President Donald Trump’s suggestion to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, amid efforts to enhance safety in major U.S. cities. This proposal came after a similar action in Washington, D.C., aimed at addressing crime and homelessness.

On Friday, Trump indicated Chicago might be next for such an intervention. He expressed disdain for the city’s current leadership, calling Johnson “grossly incompetent,” and stated, “We’ll straighten the one out probably next. That will be our next one after [D.C.], and it won’t even be tough.”

In response, Johnson labeled the initiative as “uncoordinated, uncalled-for and unsound,” stressing that Chicago had not been officially informed about any federal intervention.

“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,” he wrote in a post.

Johnson further argued that deploying the National Guard unlawfully could increase tensions between residents and law enforcement, which he believes is crucial for fostering community safety. He emphasized that such a deployment could undermine the progress made in building trust.

Even though the statistics indicate that violent crime has decreased in Chicago this year, the rate is still higher than the national average, with gang violence contributing significantly to the issues at hand.

Reportedly, Trump is looking at a deployment strategy similar to one utilized in Los Angeles earlier, where 4,000 National Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines were sent to ensure the safety of federal agents amid protests against immigration enforcement.

The Illinois National Guard is under the command of Democrat Governor JB Pritzker, but Trump has the authority to federalize the troops under Title 10, which is applicable in scenarios of “rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the government.” Previously, Trump invoked this measure for deployments in California.

He can also apply the Insurrection Act, enabling active-duty troops to engage in law enforcement duties. However, any potential federalization and deployment of the Guard would likely face legal challenges, as seen with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s opposition to Trump’s earlier deployment.

A U.S. District Judge determined that Trump’s June order to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles violated the law, but this ruling was stayed by a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The district court has no authority to usurp the President’s authority as Commander in Chief,” remarked White House spokesperson Anna Kelly during that time.

Kelly reiterated that Trump was operating within his legal authority to mobilize the National Guard to protect federal assets in Los Angeles and expressed confidence in ultimately upholding this action.

The proposal to federalize the Illinois National Guard could possibly be put into place as soon as September, according to sources.