Trump says Chicago and New York are the next cities in his fight against crime
Trump says Chicago and New York are likely next targets in his fight against crime with federal agents and the National Guard
President Donald Trump said Friday he planned to target Chicago and New York for his next crime-fighting offensive, again using federal agents and National Guard troops as he has done in Washington, D.C.
The remarks were the clearest indication yet of Trump's intent to continue his crusade against crime beyond the limits of his direct authority in Washington, D.C.
Trump also said he was willing to deploy the regular military to the District of Columbia, not just the National Guard, which would represent a significant escalation of the president's use of the armed forces within the U.S.
“I'm really honored that the National Guard has done such an incredible job working with the law enforcement,” Trump told reporters Friday. “And we haven’t had to deploy the regular military, which we’re willing to do if necessary. And after this, we’ll go somewhere else and make it safe, too.”
Trump then called Chicago a “mess” and said “we’ll fix it.”
“That’s probably going to be our next problem after this one, and it won’t even be hard,” adding, “I think Chicago will be our next problem, and then we’ll help with New York.”
Trump said the federal government could also intervene in San Francisco, among other cities.
It’s not yet known how the federal government or the National Guard might intervene in a city other than Washington, D.C., where the federal government has exclusive authority over the district.
Trump’s comments came after the Pentagon began ordering troops in Washington, D.C., on Friday to carry firearms, though there have been no reported indications that they have faced threats that would force them to carry weapons.
Trump has repeatedly described some of the country's largest cities, which are governed by Democrats, or with Black mayors and majority-minority populations, as dangerous and dirty.
Trump made the remarks Friday in the Oval Office during an announcement about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits U.S. military troops from engaging in certain civilian law enforcement actions unless expressly authorized by law.