WASHINGTON DC: The administration of American President Donald Trump has faced strong rebuke from state and city officials over its plan to deploy federal troops to Chicago and other major U.S. cities. In a move widely condemned as an overreach of executive power, the proposed military intervention follows a controversial deployment already underway in Washington, D.C.

Illinois’ Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, said in a statement that there is no emergency to justify the National Guard’s presence in his state, accusing the President of “manufacturing a crisis” to advance a political agenda. The plan has been met with similar opposition in Chicago, where Mayor Brandon Johnson described the potential deployment as “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound,” warning it could inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement.

The President’s initiative is framed as a crackdown on crime in what he calls “Democrat-controlled cities.” However, this narrative has been challenged by local data and public opinion. Mayor Johnson cited a significant drop in crime in Chicago, with homicides down more than 30% and robberies down 35% over the past year. In Washington, D.C., a recent poll found that nearly 80% of residents oppose the federal troop presence.

The deployment has also seen an escalation in tactics. The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has ordered National Guard personnel in D.C. to be armed—a reversal of a previous policy and a move that signals a more aggressive posture. In a separate development, the administration has indicated it may send as many as 1,700 National Guard members to 19 states to assist with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.