Chicago mayor condemns Trump plan to deploy troops to U.S. cities, calls president 'unstable' amid federal Chicago operation
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned President Trump’s plan to deploy troops to U.S. cities, calling him an “unstable human being” and urging Congress to check presidential authority as armed federal agents have been filmed operating downtown during a federal operation in Chicago. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said DHS requested roughly 100 troops to protect ICE and the National Guard was notified, even as reports — including Trump’s Truth Social “Full Force” language and Pentagon officials saying no deployment order had been issued — have fueled local pushback from suburban leaders and activists after Border Patrol boats on the Chicago River, marches on Michigan Avenue and clashes involving pepper balls and tear gas.
Public Safety
Military
Politics
🔍 Key Facts
- President Trump posted on Truth Social authorizing a ‘Full Force’ response and named commentator Pete Hegseth as part of a plan to send federal agents/troops to U.S. cities including Portland, Memphis and Chicago.
- Pentagon officials said they had not issued a formal deployment order and learned of the request from media reports; separately, a DoD memo reported by OPB and cited by NPR federalized 200 Oregon National Guard members for 60 days.
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said DHS sent a memo to the Defense Department requesting roughly 100 troops to Illinois to protect ICE personnel and facilities, and that the Illinois National Guard had been notified.
- On‑the‑ground video and reporting documented armed federal officers operating in downtown Chicago — Border Patrol agents used boats on the Chicago River, marched on Michigan Avenue, and activists described an incident near the Bean in which a Latino family was reportedly led away.
- Federal agents used crowd‑control measures, including pepper balls and tear gas, during clashes in Broadview on Sept. 26; Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said her village 'doesn't want' or 'need' Guard troops and can govern itself, and ICE issued a statement accusing her of 'distorting reality.'
- The Portland deployment sparked protests and a lawsuit by state and city leaders, and reporters said additional federal agents were scheduled to arrive in Memphis in the near term, indicating continued, multi‑city enforcement activity.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson publicly condemned the president, calling Trump an 'unstable human being,' urging Congress to 'do its job' to check presidential authority over domestic troop deployments, and describing the use of armed, militarized troops against U.S. cities as 'appalling' and an 'egregious attempt to undermine the sanctity of our democracy.'
- Local officials and leaders immediately pushed back legally and politically — for example, a local mayor (Keith Wilson) characterized required troops as 'zero' — reflecting widespread municipal resistance to the federal operations.
📍 Contextual Background
- On 2025-09-30 members of the Oregon National Guard reported for duty to prepare to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. government personnel and to protect federal property in Oregon; the troops were to come from a military police company and an infantry company.
📰 Sources (6)
Chicago-area mayor insists 'we don't need' Guard troops despite repeated anti-ICE clashes
New information:
- Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson—leader of a Chicago suburb of under 8,000 residents—publicly said her community does not want or need National Guard troops.
- Article quotes Thompson directly: "We don't want them here" and "We don't need them," and notes she said Broadview can govern itself.
- ICE issued a formal statement responding to Thompson, urging local enforcement and accusing her of 'distorting reality.'
- Article reiterates that federal agents used pepper balls and tear gas during Broadview clashes on Sept. 26, 2025.
Chicago mayor says 'unstable human being' Trump must be 'checked' on military use in US cities
New information:
- Direct quote from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calling President Trump an 'unstable human being' and saying 'it's right for this moment to check him.'
- Mayor Johnson's public call on Congress to 'do its job' to restrain presidential authority over domestic deployment of military forces.
- Mayor Johnson's explicit framing that deploying armed, militarized troops against U.S. cities is 'appalling' and an 'egregious attempt to undermine the sanctity of our democracy.'
Illinois governor says troops could be deployed to Chicago as immigration agents patrol downtown
New information:
- Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it appeared the federal government would deploy about 100 troops to Illinois to protect ICE personnel and facilities.
- Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard received word that DHS sent a memo to the Defense Department requesting troops to protect ICE.
- Reporting details enforcement tactics in Chicago this weekend: Border Patrol agents used boats on the Chicago River and marched on Michigan Avenue; an incident near the 'Bean' where a Latino family of four was reportedly led away was described by activists.
Trump shifts crime crackdown strategy with federal agents in Democratic cities
New information:
- On‑the‑ground video showing armed federal officers in downtown Chicago.
- CBS reports the Portland deployment sparked protests and a lawsuit by state and city leaders (visual reporting confirming local reaction).
- Reporters say additional federal agents are scheduled to arrive in Memphis today, giving a near‑term timing for the operation.
3 things to know about Trump's plan to send troops to Portland and Memphis
New information:
- NPR records Trump’s explicit Truth Social language authorizing 'Full Force' and naming Hegseth; it also reports Pentagon officials saying they had not issued a deployment order and learned of the request from media.
- NPR cites OPB reporting on a DoD memo federalizing 200 Oregon Guard members for 60 days, a concrete troop count and duration not detailed in earlier surge summaries.
- NPR documents local officials' immediate legal response and public quotes (Mayor Keith Wilson calling required troops 'zero').