Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Vows to Resist National Guard Deployment Amid Crime Crackdown

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump over the weekend, warning that if the administration proceeds with plans to deploy the National Guard or federal agents to the city as part of a national crime crackdown, Chicago residents would “rise up” in protest.

The tense exchange of words came after Trump suggested that Chicago could be next in line for enhanced federal law enforcement intervention — a move that also drew strong opposition from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who labeled the idea a “manufactured crisis.”

Johnson Rejects Federal Intervention

Speaking during an interview with MSNBC, Johnson said he viewed any attempt to station National Guard troops or federal agents in Chicago as an affront to the city’s autonomy.

“The city of Chicago does not need to become a military-occupied state,” Johnson said. “That’s not who we are.”

The mayor referenced similar efforts in Los Angeles, where local officials pushed back against federal law enforcement initiatives. “I commend the work of Mayor Bass and the people of Los Angeles who stood up and fought against this kind of authoritarianism,” Johnson continued. “Here’s the bottom line — they don’t have police power. There’s nothing they can do.”

Johnson emphasized that his administration would challenge any federal intervention through the courts if necessary. “We’re going to remain firm,” he said. “We’ll take legal action, but the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny. If that’s what’s necessary, I believe the people of Chicago will stand firm with me as I work every day to protect our city.”

Johnson added that Chicago was a “diverse, working-class city” that would not “surrender our humanity to this tyrant.”

Federal Response Highlights Crime Data

While Johnson and Pritzker have both publicly denied that Chicago faces a crime crisis, the White House issued a detailed press release late Monday disputing those claims. The statement included statistics illustrating the city’s persistent struggle with violent crime over the past decade and quotes from residents frustrated with what they see as government inaction.

According to the administration’s figures:

• For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has recorded the highest number of murders of any U.S. city.

• For seven consecutive years, it has had the highest murder rate among cities with populations exceeding one million.

• In 2024, Chicago’s per capita murder rate was three times higher than Los Angeles and nearly five times higher than New York City — exceeding rates in cities like Islamabad and Delhi.

• Out of 147,899 crimes reported in Chicago since January 1, arrests were made in only 16.2% of cases.

• The number of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago surpassed the totals in both New York and Los Angeles combined.

• Reported vehicle thefts in 2024 were more than double those in 2021.

• Officials have also faced questions regarding discrepancies in homicide data reporting.

Residents Speak Out

The White House release included testimonies from residents and business owners describing daily fear and frustration over escalating violence.

“You have seniors that have been shot,” said one woman after a recent shooting outside a senior living complex that injured five people. “Where’s the outcry? We need to have a police car out here because we don’t know if this will happen again.”

Another resident, a pub owner who was robbed at gunpoint, expressed similar dismay. “You hardly see a police car in the neighborhood anymore,” he said. “It just feels like crime is completely out of control right now. Mayor Johnson is more worried about his school board and pension plans than the safety of Chicago’s neighborhoods.”

Local officials have echoed those concerns. Alderman Brian Hopkins told NBC Chicago that the situation was undeniable: “We certainly have a crime problem in Chicago.”

One small business owner described a recent spike in robberies near his shop. “We had four armed robberies in one hour,” he said. “A few years ago, this neighborhood was peaceful. Now it feels dangerous to even walk outside.”

Political and Public Tensions Mount

The clash between federal and local leaders underscores a broader national debate over public safety, policing, and the limits of federal intervention in local governance. Trump’s proposal to expand law enforcement operations into cities with high crime rates has polarized opinion across the country — particularly in Democratic-led urban areas like Chicago, where local officials argue that federal involvement would inflame tensions rather than resolve them.

Despite criticism from city and state leaders, Trump has maintained that his administration’s initiatives are necessary to restore law and order. “For too long, these cities have allowed crime to spiral out of control,” the president said in earlier remarks. “We will not stand by while Americans live in fear.”

For Johnson, however, the issue remains one of sovereignty and principle. “Chicago belongs to the people who live and work here — not to a distant administration trying to score political points,” he said. “If they come here to occupy our streets, they will find a city that knows how to stand up and fight back.”