President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order creating the “National Rapid Response Task Force,” a specialized National Guard unit designed to reach any U.S. city within an hour. Flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump told reporters he is “prepared” to send troops to Chicago and other cities even if state leaders do not request assistance, saying the military can move “on less than 24 hours’ notice.” The order directs the Pentagon to maintain quick-reaction Guard elements in every state and authorizes them to deploy armed. U.S. defense officials confirmed initial planning for a Chicago mission that could involve several thousand personnel as early as September, expanding on earlier Guard mobilizations in Washington, D.C. Trump also signed separate directives targeting cashless bail and other public-safety policies, arguing that crime remains rampant in large urban areas. Illinois officials swiftly pushed back. Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson said no emergency justifies federal troops, noting city data showing homicides down 32 % and shootings down 37 % from a year ago. Pritzker vowed to fight any unilateral deployment in court, while congressional Democrats drafted legislation to limit presidential authority over domestic troop movements. Legal and political confrontation now looms should the White House move ahead with a Chicago deployment.