Escalating his feud with Pritzker, Trump issues warning following violent weekend in Chicago that calls for military intervention.

In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago, a move that has sparked controversy and opposition from local leaders.

The White House's decision comes amidst claims by President Trump, labeling Chicago as the "murder capital" of the United States. However, 2024 FBI data shows that Chicago does not hold the title of the city with the most murders per capita and is not listed in the top five cities for murder per capita.

The mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, opposed the deployment of the National Guard in Chicago, warning against a militarized government intervention. A court ruling supported this opposition, declaring the deployment of the National Guard as illegal.

Prior to Trump's announcement, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker had already voiced his opposition to the planned National Guard deployment, calling it "unconstitutional" and "un-American." In response, President Trump's administration has been seen to be turning up the heat on Pritzker, pushing for the acceptance of National Guard troops amidst Trump's crime crackdown.

Governor Pritzker and other state leaders have been adamant that National Guard troops are not welcome in Chicago. In a statement, Pritzker asserted that President Trump is trying to "manufacture a crisis" in relation to the planned National Guard deployment.

This announcement follows a similar move by Trump in June, when he deployed California National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to immigration riots, controversially circumventing the authority of California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom, a Democrat, ultimately filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for federalizing the National Guard to respond to those riots.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson claims that Democrats would rather let their constituents suffer than accept Trump's offer. In contrast, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in an August statement that crime has decreased in Chicago over the past year, with reductions in homicides, robberies, and shootings.

The weekend before Trump's announcement saw at least 54 people being shot in Chicago, and 8 people were killed. Despite these statistics, Trump maintains that he has the right to protect the country and will send National Guard troops to Chicago.

Trump's crime crackdown has seen some success in Washington, D.C., a fact that Trump has been quick to tout. However, the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago remains a contentious issue, with local leaders and residents voicing their concerns and opposition.

Diana Stancy, a politics reporter with Digital, covering the White House, is following this story closely and will provide updates as they become available. Pritzker's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment from Digital's website.

Escalating his feud with Pritzker, Trump issues warning following violent weekend in Chicago that calls for military intervention.