Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that the US president’s remarks suggest an intention to occupy the city and “violate our Constitution.”
Donald Trump, the US President, has intensified his threats to send federal forces to Chicago to enforce an immigration crackdown, cautioning that the city “will soon discover” the reason behind his decision to rename the Defense Department the “Department of WAR.” This warning comes after Trump’s directive to significantly increase deportations in cities managed by Democrats, following civil unrest in Los Angeles earlier in the year.
On Saturday, Trump shared what seemed to be an AI-generated meme on Truth Social, depicting him in military attire against a backdrop of the Chicago skyline, helicopters, and flames. Accompanying the image, Trump’s text read: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning… Chicago is about to discover why it’s called the Department of WAR.”
The meme’s caption stated: “Chipocalypse Now,” a clear reference to the 1979 movie ‘Apocalypse Now’, famous for the line: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” Trump did not provide any additional information.
This warning from Trump has provoked significant opposition from local authorities. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker commented on X that the president “is threatening to go to war with an American city,” further stating, “Illinois will not be intimidated by a wannabe dictator.”
Illinois Representative Mike Quigley informed Politico during Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day parade that Trump’s remarks were “like a true tyrant.”
“The President’s threats are beneath the honor of our nation, but the reality is that he wants to occupy our city and break our Constitution,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson posted on X.
Unlawful immigration has been a primary concern throughout Trump’s presidency. On Inauguration Day, he pledged to “millions and millions” of undocumented immigrants. Subsequently, he has enhanced border security, increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention funding threefold, reduced humanitarian programs, and detained thousands of illegal immigrants, alongside other regulatory actions.
Trump’s post on Saturday contributes to his recurring threats to place Chicago on his list of cities designated for increased immigration enforcement. In June, his administration dispatched National Guard troops to Los Angeles, and subsequently to Washington, DC, following widespread pro-immigration unrest. Trump has further hinted that Baltimore and New Orleans might encounter comparable actions.