Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson responded forcefully to accusations against him. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has warned about deploying the National Guard to the city , calling the potential deployment of troops a "clear breach of the Constitution." an "outrageous infringement upon the Constitution." "a blatant disregard for the Constitution." "an obvious violation of constitutional principles." "a severe transgression against the Constitution."
"The city of Chicago doesn't require a military presence. That's not what we're looking for," Johnson said. or "Chicago isn't in need of a military takeover. That's not the solution," Johnson stated. or "A military occupation isn't necessary for the city of Chicago. That's not what we desire," Johnson remarked. or "There's no requirement for a military force in Chicago. That's not the direction we want to take," Johnson explained. or "Chicago doesn’t call for a military invasion. That’s not our priority," Johnson noted. mentioned during a Sunday interview on MSNBC’s "The Weekend." Legal action may be taken if required.
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Trump said on Friday that The following city he intended to target was Chicago, and a Saturday Washington Post article Article from The Washington Post published on Saturday Report featured in the Washington Post over the weekend Latest update from the Washington Post on Saturday News piece from the Washington Post released this Saturday Coverage by the Washington Post dated Saturday The Washington Post's report issued on Saturday Story appearing in the Washington Post as of Saturday Recent publication from the Washington Post on Saturday Update from the Washington Post posted on Saturday mentioned that the Department of Defense had been preparing a military movement there for several weeks.
Johnson and several other state officials, such as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, have stated that they have not sought federal assistance and that violence in the city is decreasing.
"The reality is that violent crime has decreased in Chicago," Johnson stated on Sunday.
Based on information provided by the city and the Chicago Police Department, total crime has dropped by 15% since 2023, with various cases—such as both lethal and non-lethal shooting incidents—showing decreases when compared to 2024. Time reports .
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On a Saturday update posted on X, Pritzker shared Johnson's views, highlighting that "There is no urgent situation" within the state that justifies sending out the National Guard or regular armed forces.
“ "If the Democrats dedicated even a fraction of the time they spend critiquing the President's 'Make America Safe Again' initiative to addressing crime within their own cities, their voters would see significant improvements," said White House press secretary Abigail Jackson in a statement.
Federal actions aimed at sending military personnel to Chicago come after Trump chose to mobilize the National Guard in both Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles as part of what he claims is an attempt to reduce criminal activity and manage demonstrations related to immigration policies.
Trump has listed several cities, such as Chicago, New York, and Baltimore, as possible locations for comparable deployments, although his influence regarding D.C. is distinct due to the city’s status. The National Guard reports directly to the president. as it is not a state.
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The steps taken by Trump in Los Angeles keep encountering legal issues remain subject to lawsuits still deal with court-related problems have ongoing legal disputes experience continued litigation be involved in persistent legal battles find themselves in constant legal trouble face continuing legal proceedings struggle with unresolved legal matters deal with recurring legal complications , something Johnson indicated that Illinois officials would also aim to advance if Trump proceeded with the rumored initiatives in Chicago.
On Sunday, Johnson referenced the Tenth Amendment, which outlines the authorities reserved for the states, as an essential clause defining the boundaries of federal power.
Earlier, Trump had referenced Title 10 of the federal code For deploying military forces in Los Angeles despite resistance from California Governor Gavin Newsom. This clause allows the President to nationalize state militias in response to an "invasion" or "uprising," with the White House having used it before to justify the necessity of troops for safeguarding federal staff and assets.
In June, a trial court judge determined that Trump was required to hand over control of California's National Guard back to the state, but a U.S. Court of Appeals dissented , enabling him to remain in charge. The state of California has also filed a lawsuit regarding whether National Guard personnel exceeded their boundaries by taking on duties that were outside their scope. these are under the exclusive authority of law enforcement.
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