President Donald Trump announced on August 22, 2025, that Chicago will be the next target for a federal crime crackdown, claiming resident demand for intervention despite local opposition. This move follows a similar deployment in Washington D.C. and could involve National Guard troops to address violent crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration.
President Donald Trump made the statement during a meeting with law enforcement officials, indicating that federal forces would be deployed to Chicago as part of his administration’s efforts to combat urban crime. He specifically mentioned the possibility of using the National Guard, drawing on his previous actions in Washington D.C. where 800 troops were deployed earlier in August.
The announcement was made on Friday, August 22, 2025, and was reported by multiple news outlets shortly thereafter. Trump’s remarks came after what he described as a successful crackdown in D.C., where he declared a public safety emergency and claimed to have made the city safer.
The focus is on Chicago, Illinois, a major U.S. city that has faced challenges with violent crime rates. Trump cited these issues as justification for federal intervention, also linking it to broader concerns about homelessness and illegal immigration that he believes require immediate action.
Trump’s rationale is based on his assertion that residents, including African American communities, are clamoring for federal help. He dismissed polling that shows disapproval of such deployments, calling it ‘fake news,’ and claimed that people are ‘screaming for us to come’ to Chicago.
The proposed crackdown would involve deploying federal law enforcement or military personnel, similar to ‘Operation Legend’ during Trump’s first term, which brought over 100 federal agents to Chicago. This approach emphasizes a law-and-order strategy rather than local initiatives.
The impact has already sparked strong opposition from Chicago officials. Mayor Brandon Johnson and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin have criticized the plan as ‘political theater,’ advocating instead for community-based solutions like investing in housing, education, and mental health services. They argue that such investments make communities safer without military intervention.
Looking ahead, Trump suggested that New York could be the next city targeted after Chicago, indicating a potential expansion of this strategy nationwide. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing debates about federal overreach and the effectiveness of such measures in reducing crime.