The Trump administration on Sunday described Chicago as a “war zone,” using the claim to justify sending National Guard troops into the city despite objections from local Democratic leaders. This move intensified a growing national confrontation between President Donald Trump’s administration and Democratic officials, who accuse him of attempting to expand executive power under the guise of restoring order.
Late Saturday, President Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard soldiers to Chicago — the third-largest city in the U.S. — despite resistance from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Defending the controversial decision, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told Fox News that “Chicago is a war zone.” However, Governor Pritzker, speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, accused Republicans of deliberately fueling unrest. “They want to create the war zone so that they can send in even more troops,” he said, referring to the deployment as “Trump’s invasion.”
Pritzker criticized the federal move as unconstitutional, insisting that troops should not be deployed to any state without the “knowledge, consent, or cooperation” of local authorities.
A CBS News poll released Sunday revealed that 58 percent of Americans oppose deploying the National Guard to cities.
Despite growing backlash, Trump has continued to frame his domestic security measures as a “war from within.” On Sunday, he falsely claimed that “Portland is burning to the ground” and accused “insurrectionists” of causing chaos.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the president’s tone, describing Washington, D.C., as a “literal war zone” — a characterization that critics and journalists say contradicts on-the-ground realities.
Court Blocks Military Deployment
The president’s attempt to deploy troops across U.S. cities faced a major legal setback Saturday when a federal judge in Portland, Oregon, ruled the move unlawful. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut said Trump’s determination was “untethered to the facts,” writing, “This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law.”
While Portland has seen sporadic violence and attacks on federal property, Immergut noted that the administration had not shown evidence of any organized attempt to overthrow the government — a requirement for justifying military action.
Trump advisor Stephen Miller denounced the ruling, calling it “legal insurrection.”
Later Sunday, another court order blocked the deployment of National Guard troops from other states, following lawsuits by Oregon’s attorney general and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom celebrated the decision on social media, writing in all caps: “A FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKED DONALD TRUMP’S UNLAWFUL ATTEMPT TO DEPLOY 300 OF OUR NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO PORTLAND. TRUMP’S ABUSE OF POWER WON’T STAND.”
Tensions Rise in Chicago
In Chicago, where federal forces have been deployed as part of Trump’s broader crackdown, violence erupted Saturday when a federal officer shot a motorist. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed the man had been armed and attempted to ram a patrol vehicle.
The deployment has been spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has expanded its operations nationwide. ICE raids, mainly in Democrat-led cities, have involved masked agents in unmarked vehicles targeting residential areas and businesses — fueling widespread protests.
Earlier in September, ICE officers shot and killed 38-year-old immigrant Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during a traffic stop, alleging he tried to flee and dragged an officer with his car.
Critics say such incidents highlight the growing tension between Trump’s federal enforcement policies and local authorities who argue that his administration is overstepping constitutional limits.
