Mayor Johnson Rallies Chicago Against Trump’s Federal Troop Threat: “We’re Gonna Defend Our Democracy”
- Natalie Frank
- Sep 1
- 2 min read
At a fiery Labor Day rally, Brandon Johnson vows to protect Chicago’s workers and communities from Donald Trump’s plan to deploy federal forces; constitutes relieves
Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D September 1, 2025
CHICAGO, IL - Chicagoans have been watching what is happening in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, Calif. with apprehension. Donald Trump declared a State of Emergency in D.C. and began ramping up law enforcement in the district. About a week and a half ago, he brought in extra FBI and Homeland Security Agents and tasked them with helping out local police with street crimes. Then he deployed local National Guardsmen to help keep order. Now, over 2000 National Guardsmen and Airmen from six states have been deployed to aid local and federal law enforcement authorities as part of a Joint Task Force. He has also deployed troops to L.A. leading to protests and anger.
The latest news suggests that Trump currently has his eye on Chicago as the next city to lock down under local and federal law enforcement. Last week, Illinois Governor Pritzker was very clear on his stance when he said at a rally, “Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor needed here.”
While the Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor often fail to see eye to eye, with regard to the threatened federal policing of Chicago they are in lockstep. Mayor Johnson echoed the Governor’s sentiment, saying the people of Chicago don’t want the military to move into Chicago, and that the President is targeting the city.
“We are being targeted because of who we are as a city,” Johnson said. “The last thing that Chicagoans want is someone from the outside of our city who doesn’t know our city to try to dictate and tell us what our city needs.”
