‘Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.’
These aren’t the words of some random social media account – it’s a grab from President Donald Trump’s Truth Social page.
His latest post is a thinly veiled threat to the city of Chicago, which Trump has previously threatened to send in ICE agents to deport illegal immigrants.
Illinois governor JB Pritzker slammed the threat, writing online: ‘The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city.’
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the President’s threats were ‘beneath the honour of our nation.’
He added: ‘We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump.’
It appears Trump is preparing a potential plan for Chicago, having asked the largest military base in Illinois to be the headquarters of the ‘operation’.
Last month, he said the military might deploy to Chicago and was ready to go anywhere on short notice to crack down on crime.
When Trump last sent large numbers of ICE officers to Los Angeles, it sparked massive protests and sent the city into lockdown.
California Governor Gavin Newsom teared up as he issued a warning during the chaos: ‘Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes; this moment we have feared has arrived.’
Trump has already militarised the nation’s capital, sending the National Guard to evict ‘bloodythirsty criminals’.
Officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the FBI; Park Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been patrolling the streets.
The federalisation of the DC police also targeted the homeless population, with fears that similar action could happen in Chicago.
Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order reverting the Department of Defence to its original name – the Department of War.
Trump’s administration is implementing a ‘warrior ethos’ within the Pentagon, and introduced phrases such as ‘Secretary of War’ for Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
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