Speaking from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced plans to expand his federal crime crackdown beyond Washington D.C., targeting cities with longstanding issues of violence and dysfunction. Building on a recent federal takeover of D.C.’s law enforcement, Trump revealed his next focus will be Chicago, which he described as “a mess” under its current leadership.
Trump previously invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to take control of D.C.’s policing efforts. Hundreds of National Guard troops and federal agents were deployed following a wave of violent incidents targeting government personnel. According to Trump, this intervention has already led to significant crime reductions, including an eight-day streak without a homicide and sharp decreases in carjackings and robberies.
Although the Home Rule Act only applies to D.C., Trump has used his authority as commander-in-chief to deploy federal assets elsewhere. In California, the National Guard was federalized to assist with deportations, and U.S. Marines were involved in operations supporting immigration enforcement. Similar deployments occurred in Trump’s first term in cities like Portland, Oregon.
Trump now plans to apply this model to Chicago, claiming that residents are eager for intervention. He referred to Mayor Brandon Johnson as “grossly incompetent” and promised swift results. Speaking directly to Vice President J.D. Vance, Trump emphasized that many Chicago residents—particularly Black women—were pleading for help, wearing red MAGA hats in support.
The president also suggested that his support in traditionally Democratic cities like Chicago is stronger than media portrayals suggest. “They’ll say bad things about me, and then they’ll say, ‘thank God he’s here,’” he said, referencing locals impacted by crime.
Looking ahead, Trump hinted that New York City could be the next target of federal intervention. He specifically called out mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani for allegedly vowing to obstruct federal immigration law.
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