Pentagon Plans Military Deployment in Chicago Amid Political Controversy

The Washington Post, citing informed officials, reported that the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) is developing plans to deploy military forces in Chicago. This move is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to combat crime, homelessness, and illegal immigration in major cities led by Democrats.

Plan Details and Political Stance

According to the newspaper, the Pentagon's plan, which has been in the works for weeks, includes several options, such as mobilizing at least a few thousand National Guard members starting in September. Trump stated that "Chicago is in chaos," vowing to "likely correct that situation soon."

The Department of Defense, for its part, declined to comment on specific operations, issuing a statement that it "continuously works with inter-agency partners on plans to protect federal assets and personnel."

The announcement drew angry reactions from Democrats. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker stated that the state had not received any request for federal assistance and affirmed that no emergency warrants the deployment of the National Guard or other military forces. He accused Trump of attempting to "manufacture a crisis and politicize Americans who serve in uniform."

The spokesman for Chicago's Mayor Brandon Johnson also criticized Trump's approach as "uncoordinated, unwarranted, and unsound." He highlighted that crime rates in the city had significantly decreased last year, with homicides down by over 30%, robberies by 35%, and shooting incidents by nearly 40%.

The Politicization of Military Forces

This development follows Trump's request for Republican governors to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., a city he portrays as being "crime-ridden." These claims contradict Department of Justice data showing that violent crime rates in Washington reached a 30-year low last year.