Tensions between the White House and major U.S. cities flared anew this weekend after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson warned that residents would “rise up” if President Donald Trump follows through on threats to deploy federal agents or National Guard troops in the city as part of a national crime crackdown.
Trump Targets Chicago in Crime Initiative
Fresh off declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., President Trump suggested over the weekend that Chicago could be next in line for federal intervention. The president has consistently argued that violent crime remains unacceptably high in several urban areas and contends that local officials have failed to bring it under control.
Chicago has long been at the center of debates over crime and policing. While homicide rates and carjackings have fluctuated in recent years, some categories of violent crime have declined since 2023, though property crimes, robberies, and other offenses continue to pose significant challenges for residents. In his public remarks, Trump implied that deploying federal resources — including National Guard units — may be necessary to stabilize neighborhoods he characterized as “crime-ridden.”
Johnson’s Fierce Pushback
Mayor Johnson pushed back forcefully against the notion that Chicago requires a military presence on its streets. Speaking to MSNBC, he labeled the plan both unnecessary and dangerous, framing it as a form of “authoritarian overreach.”
“The city of Chicago does not need a military-occupied state. That’s not who we are,” Johnson said. He cited leaders in other Democratic-led cities, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, for resisting similar federal interventions.
“They don’t have police power. There’s nothing they can do,” Johnson added, warning that the presence of federal troops would deepen divisions rather than enhance public safety.
Johnson went further, promising both legal and political action if the administration proceeds. “We’ll take legal action, but the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny. And if that’s necessary, I believe that the people of Chicago will stand firm alongside me as I work every single day to protect the people of this city,” he said.
A Clash of Narratives
In framing Chicago’s response, Johnson painted the city as a resilient, diverse metropolis grounded in the values of working families and immigrant communities. “We’re not going to surrender our humanity to this tyrant,” he declared in one of his most direct critiques of the Trump administration to date.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker echoed Johnson’s criticism, describing Trump’s threat as a “manufactured crisis.” Both officials argue that local law enforcement, community programs, and city initiatives are already making strides in reducing crime and that federal interference could undermine public trust.
What’s Next
It remains uncertain whether Trump will issue a formal order targeting Chicago. In Washington, D.C., the administration has already deployed federal agents and National Guard units, sparking controversy and legal challenges, though officials report early indications of a slight decline in certain crime rates.
If Chicago becomes the next test case, the city could emerge at the center of a high-stakes legal battle over the limits of presidential authority and the rights of states and municipalities to govern their own public safety strategies.
For now, Johnson’s stance is clear: should federal troops be sent into Chicago, City Hall — and, he insists, the people — will resist.
