Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard in Chicago. He called it an abuse of power.
Pritzker said no emergency justifies sending troops to Illinois. He accused Trump of creating a crisis to expand federal authority.
Trump has already sent about 2,000 troops to Washington DC. The city’s Democratic leaders opposed the move. Trump frames the deployment as part of a nationwide crime crackdown.
On Friday, he announced Chicago and New York could be next.
Chicago mayor warns of growing tensions
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he had received no official notice about the National Guard deployment. He voiced serious concerns about the plan. He called it uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.
Johnson warned the move could escalate tensions between residents and police. He added it could undermine progress in reducing crime across the city.
Pentagon reverses stance, arms Guard in Washington
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered National Guard members in Washington DC to carry weapons. The move reversed previous Pentagon guidance. Last week, officials said the troops would remain unarmed.
So far, the Guard has not joined police operations. Local officers and federal agencies continue law enforcement duties. Guardsmen remain stationed near landmarks such as the National Mall and Union Station.
The Pentagon confirmed troops will carry weapons in line with training and mission. It remains unclear whether their role in the city will expand.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has not commented.
Trump praises mission, hints at national emergency
Trump said the Washington operation restored safety. He claimed the city had been unsafe before the Guard arrived but is now secure. He praised the troops and suggested the strategy could extend to Chicago.
He announced 1,700 Guardsmen will deploy across 19 states in the coming weeks. Texas will host the largest number. The troops will support immigration enforcement and act as deterrents.
Trump added he may declare a national emergency once the 30-day mission ends. That would allow him to keep troops indefinitely. He said he would act if conditions required it.
Local officials push back
Several Republican-led states, including South Carolina and West Virginia, already contributed troops. Trump also pledged to request $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington. Earlier this year, lawmakers cut the city’s budget by $1.1 billion.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reported more than 700 arrests since the deployment began. She said 91 illegal firearms had been seized, including 40 arrests on Thursday.
Local leaders questioned the need for federal intervention. Mayor Bowser highlighted a major drop in crime, calling it the lowest in 30 years.
A Washington Post and Schar School poll revealed strong opposition. Nearly 80 percent of residents opposed both the Guard deployment and federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.
