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By Sonam Sheth
Evening Politics Editor
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President Donald Trump said Friday that Chicago will "probably" be the next city to which the administration will deploy federal troops, officers and agents.
Newsweek reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office via phone on Friday.
Why It Matters
Trump announced earlier this month that he was sending federal troops to Washington, D.C., after alleging that the nation's capital was "overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people."
Read More on Politics
Trump's intervention marked an unprecedented federal crackdown in the local governance of the District of Columbia. The deployment of federal troops sparked widespread backlash over constitutional limits and home rule rights. Critics argue that it breaches democratic principles and could set a dangerous precedent, while supporters frame it as a necessary measure for public order.
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What To Know
"Chicago's a mess, you have an incompetent mayor, grossly incompetent," Trump told reporters on Friday, referring to Johnson, who is Democratic and a vocal Trump critic.
"And we'll straighten that one out probably next," the president said. "That'll be our next one after this ... the people of Chicago, Mr. Vice President, are screaming for us to come. They're wearing red hats."
*"*African-American ladies, beautiful ladies, they're saying, 'Please, President Trump, come to Chicago. Please,'" Trump said.
The president went on to tout his success with the "Black vote," adding, "They want something to happen. So I think Chicago will be our next and then we'll help with New York."
Trump was also asked what his deadline is for ending the federal troop deployment to Washington, D.C., and said he doesn't have a specific date in mind.
"I don't know if there is a deadline because if I declare a national emergency, which this was, that ends the deadline," Trump told reporters.
"So, I mean, I keep seeing a 30-day deadline, of which we have 22 days left or something," the president said. "But if I think we're in great shape, you know, that's one thing. But if I don't, I'm going to just say it's a national emergency and if I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want."
What People Are Saying
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office has not received formal communication from the Trump administration about military or federal law enforcement deployments in Chicago but said "we have grave concerns about the impact of any unlawful deployment of National Guard troops."
Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a Newsmax interview: "Maybe we should roll out the tour to Portland, Seattle, the other craphole cities of the country."
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, said in part: Chicago is "a beautiful, vibrant city with people from all walks of life ... These unprecedented threats from President Trump are nothing more than a power grab to distract from his disastrous policies."
What Happens Next
Trump has not indicated for certain if or when he will send federal troops into other cities.
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