The Pentagon has been planning for weeks to deploy military troops in Chicago as part of President Donald Trump’s plan to crack down on crime, homelessness, and undocumented immigration, according to a Washington Post report published Saturday. Military officials are sketching out a plan that could deploy a few thousand National Guard members, with the use of active-duty forces also under discussion.
Democratic Governor JB Pritzker issued a sharp response Saturday evening, stating that “The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention”.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense via email on Saturday for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump announced earlier this month that he was sending federal troops to Washington, D.C, after alleging that the nation’s capital was “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”
The president’s intervention marked an unprecedented federal crackdown in the local governance of the District of Columbia. The deployment of federal troops sparked widespread backlash over constitutional limits and home rule rights. Critics argue that it breaches democratic principles and could set a dangerous precedent, while supporters frame it as a necessary measure for public order.
The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) August 24, 2025
What To Know
According to the Washington Post, the Pentagon’s plans include mobilizing at least a few thousand National Guard troops as early as September. The Chicago mission would be similar to that in Los Angeles in June, when the Trump administration deployed 4,000 members of the National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines.
More than 1,900 National Guard troops from multiple states — including DC, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana and Tennessee guards — have been mobilized in DC as of Thursday. On Friday, the Pentagon announced that National Guard troops in Washington would begin carrying firearms during their patrols.
Governor Pritzker’s response came through both an official press release and a series of social media posts on X. In his formal statement, Pritzker emphasized that Illinois has received no federal outreach requesting assistance and has made no requests for federal intervention.
In one of his key X posts, Pritzker stated: “The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the @IL_Natl_Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.”
Both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor Pritzker have argued that any unilateral federal deployment would be illegal.
What People Are Saying
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said on X and in a press release: “The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention.”
He continued: “The safety of the people of Illinois is always my top priority. There is no emergency that warrants the President of the United States federalizing the @IL_Natl_Guard, deploying the National Guard from other states, or sending active duty military within our own borders.”
“Donald Trump is attempting to manufacture a crisis, politicize Americans who serve in uniform, and continue abusing his power to distract from the pain he’s causing families. We’ll continue to follow the law, stand up for the sovereignty of our state, and protect Illinoisans.”
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, said in a Newsmax interview: “Maybe we should roll out the tour to Portland, Seattle, the other craphole cities of the country.”
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, said in part: Chicago is “a beautiful, vibrant city with people from all walks of life … These unprecedented threats from President Trump are nothing more than a power grab to distract from his disastrous policies.”
What Happens Next?
The timing and scope of any potential Chicago deployment remains unclear, with Pentagon plans reportedly targeting September for potential mobilization.
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