President Donald Trump on Monday said he is prepared to deploy National Guard or other military forces to U.S. cities to combat violent crime even if state governors do not formally request the assistance. Asked by reporters whether he would order troops into American cities without a governor’s invitation, Trump replied, “I am.” Pressed on whether the Pentagon is preparing to send forces to Chicago, the president added, “We’re ready to go anywhere. We can go anywhere on less than 24 hours’ notice.” Federal deployments to quell unrest or crime traditionally follow a request from state leaders; sending troops unilaterally would test long-standing limits on federal involvement in domestic law-enforcement. Trump’s comments signal a further escalation of his administration’s policing strategy and set up potential legal and political confrontations with governors who oppose outside intervention.