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By Joe Edwards and Shane Croucher
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President Donald Trump said he told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the military should use "dangerous" U.S. cities as "training grounds."
Trump was speaking to top American military leaders who had gathered for a rare meeting at Quantico in Virginia.
The president was discussing his deployment of the National Guard to cities as part of his crackdown on crime and disorder, and stated that Chicago would soon see troops.
Read More on Politics
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
Trump has emphasized security and law and order in his second term, launching a significant mass deportation campaign. His administration has also deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to support law enforcement and immigration operations.
What To Know
“I told Pete we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military,” Trump said.
“Because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” he added, also launching into an attack on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, whom he branded “incompetent.”
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“Last week they had 11 people murdered, 44 people shot,” Trump continued. “The week before that they’d had five people murdered, 28 people shot.”
He also referenced pushback from Pritzker over the prospect of the military being deployed in the city: “They need the military, desperately,” Trump said.
Trump then turned his attention to Portland, Oregon, which he compared to “a warzone.”
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump announced he had directed his administration to deploy troops to the city.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists," he wrote.
"I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary," he added.
Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at rebranding the Department of Defense as the "Department of War" and designating Hegseth as the "Secretary of War." Such a move would require an act of Congress to be official, so the president's order allows these new "secondary" titles for symbolic or ceremonial purposes, but it doesn’t legally change their names or roles.
What People Are Saying
Speaking to American military leaders, President Donald Trump said: “Last month I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is going to be a big thing for the people in this room because it’s the enemy from within, and we have to handle it before it gets out of control."
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday on X: “To Donald Trump:
“Stop using military troops and ICE to invade and disrupt American cities.
“Stop calling your political opponents ‘enemies’ of the U.S.
“Stop attacking the 1st Amendment.
“Our troops and our nation deserve better than you acting as a petty tyrant.”
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said Sunday on X: “Contrary to President Trump’s social media posts, Portland is not war ravaged. There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security.”
What Happens Next
During the meeting, Hegseth also told U.S. military leadership they must "prepare for war," as Newsweek reported.
"From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: Warfighting," Hegseth said.
"Preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war. No one here wants war. But it's because we love peace."
Update 9/30/25, 12:21 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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