On September 6, 2025, President Donald Trump ignited a political firestorm by threatening to send National Guard troops and ramp up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Chicago—an escalation that has drawn sharp condemnation from city and state leaders, as well as national scrutiny over the use of military force in American cities. The controversy unfolded in real time on social media, with Trump posting on Truth Social a provocative, AI-generated image parodying the film "Apocalypse Now" and declaring, "I love the smell of deportations in the morning ... Chicago about to find out why it's called the Department of WAR."
According to NPR and WBEZ, the president’s renewed threats specifically targeted Chicago, promising a widespread crackdown on immigration and crime. The administration’s rhetoric was quickly matched by action: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested to use Naval Station Great Lakes, the largest military base in Illinois, as a staging area for roughly 250 federal agents and 140 vehicles until October 5. CBS News Chicago confirmed that the base would provide office space, storage for non-lethal munitions, and parking for federal officers—logistical moves that, for many, blurred the line between civil and military authority.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker was among the first to respond, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to call out what he described as an unprecedented threat. "This is not a joke. This is not normal," Pritzker wrote. "Donald Trump isn't a strongman, he's a scared man. Illinois won't be intimidated by a wannabe dictator." He later warned that Trump was preparing to deploy the Texas National Guard against Chicago, despite the governor’s repeated objections. Pritzker also suggested that the administration’s aggressive ICE raids could be designed to provoke unrest, potentially giving Trump a pretext to further deploy troops in the city.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed these concerns, stating, "The President's threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution. We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump." Johnson’s words captured a sense of urgency that has gripped the city’s leadership and many of its residents.
The timing of Trump’s posts was particularly striking. As the president’s threats circulated, the Pilsen neighborhood was celebrating its 24th annual Mexican Independence Day parade—an event that drew about 3,000 people to 18th Street, according to reporting by WBEZ and Democracy Docket. Despite the looming threat of immigration raids, the community pressed on, determined not to let fear overshadow their celebration. Olga and William Cook, attending the parade for the first time, told reporters, "It is a concern every day, going out the house, being with my family and friends. Our community is very strong and we will overcome this issue."
At the parade, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) minced no words in his criticism of Trump’s approach. "To suggest that the troops are coming into Chicago or that the Department of War is going to be engaged is an embarrassment," Durbin said, as quoted by local media. "This is a peace-loving community trying to do their best to make a living and raise a family. For the president to come out with these threatening words is disgusting." U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) went further, calling the president’s latest threat "a virtual act of war against his own people" and "the act of a tyrant." Representative Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL) described Trump’s post as "despicable" and "unpresidential," adding, "It's why the world looks at us in chagrin. Those are not the ways that a president should express himself. It's despicable, it's unfortunate, but we resolve to continue to fight to protect the Constitution to ensure due process and that families are not ripped apart by this president's policies."
Many elected officials emphasized unity and resilience in the face of what they characterized as intimidation tactics. "This is more than a parade today. This is a show of unity. This is a reminder that there's more that unites us than divides us. This is a time to step up, and step together, and appreciate why this matters," Quigley said, as reported by CBS News. He also pointed out the contradiction in the administration’s approach to public safety, noting, "If this was really about safe neighborhoods, the money it took to deploy the National Guard in Los Angeles could hire 2,000 Chicago police officers. Instead, they cut $800 million from anti-violence programs, including the ones that are working right here in Chicago, and of course they're doing nothing about preventing gun violence."
The Trump administration’s aggressive stance on federal intervention in Democratic-led cities has not been limited to Chicago. Over the past several months, Trump has threatened similar deployments in New York, Portland, Oakland, and other major cities, often citing the need to restore law and order. In June, he sent troops to Los Angeles, and last month, to Washington, D.C. These actions have fueled concerns that such deployments could be used to undermine the autonomy of Democratic strongholds and, potentially, future elections. Democracy Docket noted that legal experts view the potential deployment of the Texas National Guard into Illinois as a dangerous threat to state sovereignty.
The legal battle over the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement reached a new pitch this week. On September 4, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in California ruled that the Trump administration had violated the Posse Comitatus Act—a law dating back to 1878 that prohibits the use of the military for civilian law enforcement—by deploying National Guard troops for such purposes in California. Breyer’s injunction blocks the use of the National Guard for arrests, searches, and crowd control in California, though it does not require the withdrawal of troops already stationed in Los Angeles. The judge’s order is frozen until September 12 to allow the administration to appeal, and the White House has already signaled its intent to challenge the ruling. "Once again, a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the commander-in-chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. "President Trump saved Los Angeles, which was overrun by deranged leftist lunatics sowing mass chaos until he stepped in."
Analysts and retired military officials have also weighed in, with some, as highlighted by NBC News, criticizing the president’s threats as "politics over public safety" and warning that such actions represent a misuse of military resources. Concerns about the potential for unrest and the precedent set by military deployments in American cities have only grown as Trump’s rhetoric has intensified.
As Chicago’s leaders and residents brace for what comes next, the city’s annual celebrations and everyday routines continue under a cloud of uncertainty. The debate over the boundaries of federal authority, the role of the military in domestic affairs, and the protection of civil liberties is playing out not just in courtrooms and press conferences, but in the streets where communities are determined to stand together—even in the face of extraordinary threats from the highest office in the land.
