Illinois politicians condemned President Donald Trump’s hints about deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, saying there is no justification for federal troops to be sent into the city to fight crime. While ABC News reported that planning was underway, no official decision had been made, and Trump indicated he “probably should” act, though he did not commit to a deployment.
At a downtown press conference, Illinois leaders stressed that the White House would not have authority to send troops into Chicago without state approval. Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson made clear they would not request or accept National Guard troops for the city. Pritzker arrived at the event aboard a water taxi that began near Trump Tower, underscoring the symbolism of pushing back against a federal militarized approach to crime.
Participants at the briefing included Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. On the GOP side, Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar argued that relief for Chicago residents was needed immediately, while local aldermen and civic groups presented a range of perspectives on the potential deployment.
Trump has pointed to his use of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. as a success and has suggested similar measures for Democratic-led cities. Critics in Illinois argued that the guard’s presence would not necessarily improve safety and could undermine community trust. They noted that past deployments in other cities did not demonstrate clear safety benefits and could strain police-community relations.
Officials emphasized that the White House has signaled planning for National Guard involvement, but Washington has not provided concrete assurances to the state or city. A Pentagon spokesperson said the department is a planning organization and would not speculate on specific operations, reiterating that it works with partners to protect federal assets and personnel.
Democratic leaders in Illinois highlighted positive crime trends under Mayor Johnson’s administration. Chicago has reported declines in violent crime and improvements in homicide and shooting statistics in 2024 and 2025, along with gains in police-community collaboration. Johnson cited a 33% reduction in homicides and a 38% reduction in shootings in the first half of the year, along with a robust homicide clearance rate of 77.4%, the highest in more than a decade. He also pointed to expanded mental health support for crisis calls, increased youth employment, and stronger ties with community violence intervention efforts.
Pritzker’s statement framed the issue as a political maneuver that would distract from effective, data-driven local policing. He contrasted Illinois’s progress with what he described as higher crime levels in some Republican-led states and urged the administration to restore crime-prevention funding to local communities rather than deploying military resources.
Johnson signaled potential legal action if a deployment occurred, though it remained unclear whether courts would intervene. He stressed that the city’s focus remains on continuing its comprehensive approach to public safety, which prioritizes prevention, mental health support, and community trust.
Summary of relevant figures and actions:
– Chicago crime trends show substantial improvements in several categories under local strategy, including homicides, shootings, and clearance rates.
– The White House has discussed planning for National Guard deployments in Democratic-led areas, but authority to deploy without state consent is limited.
– Local leaders advocate continuing data-driven policing, community partnerships, mental health resources, and targeted youth programs as the path forward.
– The next steps hinge on White House decisions and potential legal considerations, with Illinois officials urging a focus on proven local strategies rather than a militarized approach to crime.
Additional context and value:
– Legal and constitutional questions loom regarding the president’s authority to deploy the National Guard in a city without state approval, as well as potential implications for civil liberties and community trust.
– The dispute highlights a broader national debate over how best to address crime in major cities, balancing federal improvisation with sustained local investment in prevention, policing, and social services.
– For readers, a useful follow-up will be monitoring whether the White House formally requests state cooperation, any judicial action, and how local communities respond to any future development.
Overall, Illinois leaders emphasize that Chicago’s decline in violent crime stems from long-term investments in policing, mental health, youth opportunities, and cross-agency collaboration, arguing that those approaches—not federal troop deployments—are delivering tangible safety gains.