City leaders brace for deployment of National Guard to Chicago, which may begin Tuesday

CHICAGO — National Guard troops may be headed to Chicago as soon as Tuesday, and they face mixed reaction.

Illinois veterans spoke out against the deployment of troops to the city at Federal Plaza Tuesday morning, while the Illinois Freedoom Caucus held a press conference on Wacker Drive, demanding local leaders to accept federal crime assistance.

Over the Labor Day weekend, more than 50 people were shot and eight were killed across Chicago.

According to President Donald Trump, this is why he wants to crackdown on crime in the city.

Trump posted about Chicago violence on Truth Social Tuesday morning, saying, “At least 54 people were shot in Chicago over the weekend, 8 people were killed. The last two weekends were similar. Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far. Pritzker needs help badly, he just doesn’t know it yet. I will solve the crime problem fast, just like I did in DC. Chicago will be safe again, and soon. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Both Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker reject the deployment of troops. Pritzker called it “dangerous” while Johnson said it’s federal overreach.

“This is dangerous. They shouldn’t be doing it, it’s anti-American, it’s un-American,” Pritzker said. “We would like ATF agents to help us take more guns off the streets. We would like (the) FBI, again, to coordinate with our local law enforcement to help catch perpetrators of crimes. If they would do that, we would welcome that.”

On Saturday, Johnson signed an executive order establishing the “Protecting Chicago” initiative, which seeks to protect residents from the potential mobilization of National Guard troops in the city and demands that Trump stand down on his threats to send in troops to help crack down on crime and immigration.

Mayor Johnson attended a Labor Day rally on Sunday, where the focus was promoting workers’ rights and opposing the policies of the Trump administration.

“No federal troops in the city of Chicago. No militarized force in the city of Chicago. We’re going to defend our democracy in the city of Chicago. We’re going to protect the humanity of every single person in the city of Chicago,” Johnson said.

The Fraternal Order of Police: Chicago Lodge No. 7 posted to social media Sunday, saying, “Crime is down. The murderous mindset is not. Just like the numbers can explode. Until we have more cops, some federal help is welcomed and appreciated.”

Gov. Pritzker will also hold a press conference at 3 p.m. Tuesday.