Trump Plans Military Deployment in Chicago

The Pentagon is reportedly planning to deploy U.S. military personnel in Chicago as early as September, according to a report by *The Washington Post* cited by Reuters. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to address crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration in Democratic-led cities.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the Pentagon has been working on the deployment plan for weeks, which could involve mobilizing thousands of National Guard troops to Chicago, the third-largest city in the U.S. The plan remains sensitive, with discussions also considering the less likely option of deploying active-duty Marines. This follows a similar deployment in Los Angeles in June, where the Trump administration sent 4,000 California National Guard members and 700 active-duty Marines despite protests from local leaders and the state governor.

Last weekend, President Trump ordered several hundred National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., after writing to governors of three Republican-controlled states. The deployment in D.C. was part of a broader federal crackdown on crime, which Trump has described as successful. On Friday, Trump criticized Chicago’s leadership, calling the city a “mess” and mocking its Democratic mayor, Brandon Johnson, while vowing to “straighten it out.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker responded, stating that the state has not been contacted by the federal government regarding any need for assistance. He accused Trump of attempting to “manufacture a crisis” and emphasized that there is no emergency justifying military deployment in Illinois. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed “grave concerns” about any unlawful National Guard deployment, noting that such actions could undermine the city’s progress in reducing crime. According to city data, homicides in Chicago have dropped by 30%, robberies by 35%, and shootings by nearly 40% in 2025 compared to the previous year. The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the *Washington Post* report. Critics, including local leaders, argue that Trump’s actions are politically motivated and risk escalating tensions between residents and law enforcement.