The Pentagon has been quietly preparing for a potential military deployment in Chicago for weeks, according to reports. The planning is said to be part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy of using force in cities run by Democrats. Officials who spoke to The Washington Post explained that Chicago could become a model for similar operations in other urban areas across the country.
Pentagon’s Secret Planning for Chicago
Several options were reportedly discussed by military leaders. One included sending thousands of National Guard troops into Chicago in September. Another option was the use of active-duty military forces, although sources suggested that scenario was less likely. The idea behind the planning was to create a blueprint for future deployments if Trump chooses to expand his strategy to other cities.
These reports have raised alarm among leaders in Illinois. State officials have stated that no request for federal assistance has been made by the state, nor has the federal government reached out to coordinate such a deployment.
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Trump’s Threats Against Baltimore
While plans for Chicago were being revealed, Trump also shifted his focus to Baltimore. On Sunday morning, he took to Truth Social, his social media platform, to threaten sending military troops to the city. Trump wrote that he would deploy the military to Baltimore to “clean up” crime, comparing the move to actions already taken in Washington, D.C.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore responded sharply to Trump’s comments. Moore mocked Trump’s history of avoiding military service and invited him to personally visit Baltimore. Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Moore said Trump would “do anything to get out of walking” and even offered to provide him with a golf cart for the visit. Moore defended the progress made in Maryland, pointing out that the state has been seeing improvements in public safety.
Baltimore’s crime statistics support Moore’s statement. According to the Baltimore Police Department, homicides in the city have dropped by 22 percent compared to last year.
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Backlash From Chicago State and City Leaders
State and local officials strongly opposed the push to use military force in American cities. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the idea of deploying federal troops to Chicago. Pritzker called it “an authoritarian power grab of major cities” and accused Trump of trying to destabilize communities in order to expand his influence.
Pritzker added that the federal government has not communicated with Illinois about any supposed emergency. He emphasized that there is no crisis that would justify sending in the Illinois National Guard, troops from other states, or even active-duty military forces.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also strongly rejected the idea. Johnson stated that the deployment of National Guard troops would be “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.” He highlighted that crime in Chicago is actually declining. Statistics show a 30 percent reduction in homicides, a 35 percent drop in robberies, and nearly a 40 percent decrease in shootings over the past year.
Trump’s Actions in D.C. and Los Angeles Spark Criticism
Similar criticism has come from Maryland officials. Governor Wes Moore, speaking on Face the Nation, said that Trump’s previous domestic military deployments were “not sustainable” and “unconstitutional.” He argued that Trump’s actions were “performative” and aimed at political posturing rather than addressing the real needs of communities.
Earlier in the summer, Trump had already sent troops into Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. In Washington, Trump justified the military presence by claiming violent crime was rising, even though official records showed the city’s crime was actually decreasing. In Los Angeles, troops confronted protests against immigration enforcement actions. These actions detained and deported thousands of people, and officials placed some deported immigrants in detention centers abroad.
Trump has frequently targeted so-called “sanctuary cities,” where local authorities do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. He described Chicago’s leadership as “incompetent” and said the city would be the “next” one to face intervention after Washington and Los Angeles.
State and local leaders continue to stress that they have made no requests for federal assistance. They also emphasize that they are achieving progress on crime reduction without federal interference.