Washington — In yet another authoritarian display, President Donald Trump has openly threatened to impose federal control over Chicago and other Democratic-led cities, despite having no constitutional basis to do so. The reckless announcement has alarmed local leaders who accuse Trump of abusing power to stage political theater while trampling over democratic norms.
Trump bragged on August 22 about his federal takeover of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, a move carried out under the Home Rule Act, where he deployed National Guard troops and federal agents in a show of military strength against American citizens. Emboldened by this unprecedented act, he went further, labeling Chicago as “a mess” and suggesting residents were desperate for his intervention, claims with no legal grounding or factual support.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blasted the threat as “lawless and dangerous,” underscoring that the city has actually seen a historic drop in violent crime. “This is not leadership; this is dictatorship masquerading as law and order,” Johnson declared.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the White House, saying Trump was attempting to treat Chicago like an occupied territory rather than a sovereign city protected by the Constitution. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth added that the proposal revealed Trump’s contempt for state authority and democratic institutions.
Legal scholars emphasized that Trump’s power grab has no parallel in US history outside of wartime abuses. Unlike Washington, D.C., where the Home Rule Act permits federal interference, cities like Chicago are shielded by the Tenth Amendment. Deploying troops or seizing local police forces without invoking the Insurrection Act would amount to an illegal coup against state sovereignty.
Critics argue that Trump’s rhetoric is not only detached from reality but also deliberately misleading. Crime in Chicago has dropped more than 30 percent in the past year, and similar declines have been recorded in New York and Washington. Instead of crediting community programs, investments in infrastructure, and smarter policing, Trump paints a false picture of chaos to justify militarizing urban streets.
Observers say the latest threats expose the true face of Trump’s “law-and-order” mantra, a blueprint for authoritarianism where federal might is used to undermine local democracy. The idea of occupying cities like Chicago reflects the same disdain for civil liberties and constitutional order that Trump’s administration has repeatedly shown.
According to Reuters, Trump’s menacing comments came as he doubled down on his federal stranglehold over Washington, while not explaining how such a dangerous precedent could legally extend to Illinois or any other state-run city.
