Trump suggests Chicago is next for federal crime crackdown, followed by New York City
Source: CBS News
August 22, 2025 / 2:29 PM EDT
Washington President Trump on Friday said Chicago will probably be the federal government's next target for its anti-crime effort, following the ongoing operation in Washington, D.C., with New York City after that. The remarks were the president's clearest indication yet that he intends to bring his crusade against crime beyond the corridors of his direct authority in Washington. Mr. Trump also said he's willing to bring in the "regular military" into the District of Columbia, not just the National Guard, which would be a significant escalation of the president's use of the military on U.S. soil.
"I really am honored that the National Guard has done such an incredible job working with the police," Mr. Trump told reporters Friday. "And we haven't had to bring in the regular military, which we're willing to do if we have to. And after we do this, we'll go to another location, and we'll make it safe, also."
"Chicago's a mess," he continued. You have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent. And we'll straighten that one out probably next, that'll be our next one after this." He said "the people in Chicago" are "screaming for us to come."
"They're wearing red hats ... African American ladies, beautiful ladies, are saying, 'Please, President Trump, come to Chicago. Please.' I did great with the Black vote, as you know. And they want something to happen, so, I think Chicago will be our next, and then we'll help with New York." "When we're ready we'll go in and we'll straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C.," the president added.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-chicago-next-federal-law-enforcement-crime-then-new-york-city/
WHERE ARE THE EPSTEIN FILES??

johnnyfins
(2,787 posts)Bengus81
(9,285 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(178,167 posts)Go away, TACO, and take your ugly building with you.
Chi67
(1,245 posts)He better not even try it.
Bayard
(26,860 posts)No one is begging him to come to Chicago. Can't wait to hear Gov. Pritzker's response.
OldBaldy1701E
(8,933 posts)Response to BumRushDaShow (Original post)
Bayard This message was self-deleted by its author.
bucolic_frolic
(52,235 posts)one city at a time.
AllaN01Bear
(27,311 posts)
FakeNoose
(38,514 posts)
no_hypocrisy
(52,943 posts)electric_blue68
(23,704 posts)Smilo
(1,978 posts)Memphis, TN or St. Louis, Missouri a couple of states with high crime rates. Could it be because they are republican states? Nah, he is just worried about those little ole blue states. /s
BigmanPigman
(53,635 posts)"When we're ready we'll go in and we'll straighten out Chicago, just like we did D.C.," the president added"
Who talks like this? He thinks he is in the cast of Goodfellas.
Evolve Dammit
(21,199 posts)BigmanPigman
(53,635 posts)PortTack
(35,715 posts)travelingthrulife
(3,171 posts)BumRushDaShow
(159,484 posts)they are a captive to Congress (who is MIA), where the authority for the President is only supposed to be for 30 days before they have to get legislative permission from Congress to extend it.
For other cities, they have to wait until it actually happens to file a suit (unfortunately). But if it does happen in one city and others join to protest with that first city in a suit, they might all be able to be covered by an injunction.
electric_blue68
(23,704 posts)"beautiful Black ladies" say about you!
And bunch of us white ladies, too!
As well as other Women of color.
Figarosmom
(8,231 posts)Atreus
(64 posts)Trump is once again threatening to straighten out cities like Chicago, New York, and San Francisco by sending in federal forces. Heres how this realistically plays out, based on law, precedent, and politics.
What Trump cant do
Outside of D.C., he has no direct authority over local police and cant just take over a city.
State National Guard units answer to their governors. A Democratic governor (like Pritzker in Illinois or Hochul in New York) would have to approve activation for their state, unless Trump invoked something extraordinary.
The Posse Comitatus Act (1878) restricts use of the U.S. military in domestic law enforcement. Regular Army/Marines cant just be deployed into Chicago or NYC to police the streets.
What he could try to do
Invoke the Insurrection Act (1807). This is the only real legal back door that allows a president to use federal troops in domestic law enforcement without governor approval but its supposed to be reserved for rebellion, obstruction of federal law, or when civil authorities are completely unable/unwilling to maintain order. Even then, it would spark immediate lawsuits and likely end up in the Supreme Court.
Send federal agencies (FBI, ATF, DHS, DEA) into cities under the guise of crime task forces. Hes done this before Operation Legend in 2020 was a smaller version of this, where federal officers were sent into Kansas City, Chicago, Albuquerque, etc. Thats far more likely than tanks rolling down Michigan Avenue.
Why this is political posturing
Hes clearly using crime in Democratic-run cities as a political weapon. It riles up his base, lets him attack Democratic mayors, and gives him a law and order strongman narrative going into 2026.
Legally, his hands are tied unless something extreme (riots, civil unrest, rebellion) happens that he can exploit. Governors will resist, courts will block, and Congress would weigh in.
The idea of the military making Chicago safe is pure theater it appeals to a certain audience but collapses under legal and practical scrutiny.
How it could play out
The Bluff (Most Likely)
He ramps up federal task forces (FBI, ATF, DHS, DEA), calls a press conference, and claims victory. Its noisy, politically useful, but limited in scope. No military, no city takeover.
The Insurrection Act Gambit (Worst-Case)
He tries to invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act to override governors and deploy troops. That triggers immediate lawsuits, national protests, and likely a showdown in the Supreme Court. The Pentagon itself might resist being used this way. It would be a full-blown constitutional crisis.
Bottom line
This is either political theater to rally his base, or an unprecedented abuse of power that collapses under legal and political resistance. The uproar is already there but a lot of this is more about optics than actual authority.
Mark.b2
(622 posts)Here in Arkansasas red as they cometwo cities trash the statewide crime stats. Little Rock and, my hometown, Pine Bluff. Im certain the states Trump voters would be all for it.
The folks of Illinois and Cook County prefer the status quo and dont want help.
Go where the help is wanted and where it stands a chance of working.
kiranon
(1,734 posts)T wants a riot so he can declare martial law. Don't give it to him. It will be a miracle if the country isn't under Martial Law by January l, 2026. That is T's goal. Stay calm and fight. Intelligence, empathy, knowledge, couraae and how to solve most any thing is on our side.