President Donald Trump, who this month deployed roughly 2,000 National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C., said on 22 Aug. that Chicago is "probably" the next target of his nationwide crime crackdown. He called the city "a mess" and claimed residents are "screaming" for federal intervention, adding that similar action could later extend to New York and San Francisco. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker rejected the threat, arguing that any unilateral federal deployment would be an illegal abuse of presidential power. Johnson noted that violent crime in Chicago has fallen sharply over the past year—homicides by more than 30 percent, robberies by 35 percent and shootings by nearly 40 percent—saying federal troops would undermine that progress rather than reinforce it. Legal experts point out that activating the National Guard for domestic law-enforcement duties normally requires a governor’s consent, setting the stage for a court fight if the White House proceeds. Critics also say the D.C. deployment has concentrated soldiers in tourist areas rather than crime hot spots, suggesting the Chicago plan is more political than operational. The city and state are preparing legal options should the administration attempt to move forward.