President Donald Trump has suggested plans to extend National Guard deployments to additional Democratic-led cities across the United States, with Chicago emerging as a primary target following recent actions in Washington, DC.
This announcement comes as the Department of Defense revealed that National Guard troops patrolling the nation's capital will now carry service-issued weapons, a decision directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Pentagon stated on Friday that this measure aligns with the mission to reduce crime in Washington, DC, despite data from the Metropolitan Police Department indicating a 35 percent drop in violent crime since 2023.
Trump activated the National Guard on August 11 to tackle perceived crime issues in the city, ignoring statistics showing violent crime at a 30-year low, though an increase occurred post-COVID-19 pandemic.
He has criticized the city's leadership, federalized the local police for 30 days, and threatened further federal takeover.
Trump described Washington, DC, as a "crime-infested rat hole" during a White House meeting with reporters and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
DC's status as the capital allows greater federal flexibility in deploying troops compared to other areas, though critics warn of potential legal violations under the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants local governance while Congress retains oversight.
Legal experts note that overriding this would likely require congressional action, and past uses of the Guard, such as in Los Angeles last June, have faced lawsuits citing the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
In California, Attorney General Rob Bonta described the Los Angeles deployment as "political theater and public intimidation" without historical precedent.
Trump has outlined intentions to deploy troops to other cities to combat crime, emphasizing a national safety push.
He specifically highlighted Chicago, calling its mayor "grossly incompetent" and stating it would be the next focus after DC.
Trump also mentioned potential interventions in New York and San Francisco, criticizing Democratic management there.
“After we do this, we’ll go to another location, and we’ll make it safe also. We’re going to make our country very safe. We’re going to make our cities very, very safe,” Trump said.
Such moves would likely encounter legal hurdles under the Posse Comitatus Act.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded by urging the release of funds for anti-violence programs rather than military involvement, warning that troops would destabilize the city.
As the 30-day federal control of DC police nears its end, Trump indicated he might declare a national emergency to extend authority and even consider regular military involvement if necessary.
“I don’t know if there is a deadline because if I declare a national emergency, which this was, that ends the deadline,” Trump said.
“We haven’t had to bring in the regular military, which we were willing to do if we have to.”
These developments raise concerns about federal overreach and its impact on local governance and civil liberties in targeted urban areas.