Chicago mayor condemns Trump plan to deploy troops to U.S. cities, calls president 'unstable' amid federal Chicago operation
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called President Trump an "unstable human being," condemned the plan to deploy armed, militarized troops to U.S. cities as "appalling" and urged Congress to check presidential authority over domestic military use. His remarks come as federal agents — including Border Patrol and ICE personnel — have been operating in downtown Chicago (with reports of boats on the Chicago River, marches on Michigan Avenue and video of armed officers), Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said DHS requested about 100 troops to protect ICE and the Guard was notified, and the wider effort echoes controversial deployments to Portland and Memphis that spurred protests, legal challenges and confusion over Pentagon deployment orders.
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Public Safety
Military
🔍 Key Facts
- President Trump posted on Truth Social authorizing a 'Full Force' response and named commentator Pete Hegseth; NPR reports Pentagon officials say they had not issued a deployment order and learned of the request from the media.
- An internal DoD memo federalized about 200 Oregon National Guard members for 60 days, according to NPR.
- 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 the Illinois National Guard was notified.
- On‑the‑ground video shows armed federal officers in downtown Chicago; PBS reported Border Patrol using boats on the Chicago River, marching on Michigan Avenue, and activists describing an incident near the 'Bean' in which a Latino family of four was led away.
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly condemned the plan, called President Trump an 'unstable human being,' called deploying armed, militarized troops against U.S. cities 'appalling' and an 'egregious attempt to undermine the sanctity of our democracy,' and urged Congress to 'do its job' to restrain presidential authority.
- The federal deployments are part of a broader operation: the Portland deployment prompted protests and a lawsuit by state and city leaders, and reporters say additional federal agents were scheduled to arrive in Memphis.
- Local officials have mounted immediate legal and public responses to federal requests — NPR cites Oregon leaders (including Mayor Keith Wilson) rejecting required troop deployments as 'zero' and pursuing legal action.
📍 Contextual Background
- Department of Defense contingency guidance listed priority missions during a shutdown in the following order: operations to secure the U.S. Southern Border; Middle East operations; the U.S. missile defense project Golden Dome for America; depot maintenance; shipbuilding; and critical munitions.
- Video footage captured an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer pushing a visibly upset Ecuadoran woman to the ground outside an immigration court at the 26 Federal Plaza building in Manhattan.
- The Department of Homeland Security released a statement saying the officer was being relieved of current duties while a full investigation was conducted and denouncing the officer's conduct as unacceptable.
- During a U.S. federal government shutdown, active-duty military personnel and deployed National Guard members must continue to perform their assigned duties but their pay is delayed until the shutdown ends.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates incidents of targeted violence.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, described the incident as an act of targeted violence, and sent about 100 federal agents to Grand Blanc Township.
📰 Sources (5)
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').