President Trump eyes Chicago for next phase of crime crackdown

President Donald Trump announced on August 22, that he plans to extend the federal crime reduction efforts he enacted in Washington, D.C. to Chicago. He referred to the deployment of the National Guard and federal agents in D.C. as a blueprint for broader action.

Trump did not provide specifics on when or how this initiative would unfold in Chicago, but he suggested the city would be the next focus after D.C., followed potentially by New York.

Mayor Brandon Johnson responded that he has not received any formal notice from the federal government. He warned that deploying military forces without coordination could strain relations between law enforcement and the community and undermine violence prevention efforts.  

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Legal scholars note that Washington, D.C., is a unique federal district where the president has broader authority, unlike in states like Illinois, where deploying the National Guard typically requires consent from state officials.

Reactions to Trump’s announcement have been mixed. Supporters suggest federal assistance could bolster local safety, while critics caution that such a move could infringe on local authority, escalate tensions and raise constitutional concerns, particularly under the Tenth Amendment.

Sources:

• https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-sets-sights-chicago-make-safer-seeks-2b/story?id=124887436
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-delivers-remarks-after-powell-speech-on-interest-rates
• https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-will-next-take-his-crime-crackdown-chicago-2025-08-22/