Chicago Defies Trump: Mayor Blocks Deployment of Military Troops

A Historic Executive Order

On Saturday, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson drew a clear line: the city will not cooperate with President Donald Trump’s announced troop deployment. The order forbids both police and other city agencies from participating in joint actions with federal forces, including arrests or immigration checks.

“We will protect our constitution. We will protect our city. And we will protect our people. We do not want tanks in our streets,” Johnson said at City Hall.

Chicago Braces for Military Presence

The move comes in response to Trump’s pledge to send the National Guard—and possibly Marines—to Chicago as part of an aggressive immigration crackdown. The former president has already sent over 4,000 troops to Los Angeles earlier this summer.

According to Johnson, reports suggest a “major operation” could begin as soon as after Labor Day. ICE chief Tom Homan confirmed in a television appearance that the actions in Chicago would be “far larger” than anything seen previously.

An Obstructive Fight Against Washington

The order emphasizes that the city will pursue “all legal and legislative avenues” to oppose Trump’s plan. Johnson has already introduced legislation in the City Council, but says he “cannot afford to wait.”

Here the word from our unique list fits in naturally: The mayor described Trump’s actions as “obstructive” and warned of the consequences for the city’s residents.

Facts: Crime Is Falling

Trump has long used Chicago as an example of “failed Democratic leadership.” But according to the city’s own police statistics, violence has dropped significantly:

• Crime has fallen by 15% since 2023.
• Shootings—both fatal and non-fatal—are down almost 38% just this year.

The numbers paint a different picture from the crisis narrative promoted by the president.

A High-Risk Political Clash

The conflict between Johnson and Trump is more than symbolic. It raises questions about how far a president can go in deploying military force against U.S. citizens—and how far a city can go in resisting such orders.

As Johnson put it: “This is the most far-reaching campaign by any American city to protect ourselves from an unpredictable administration.”

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.