Trump walks back “war” rhetoric on Chicago but vows federal crackdown on crime

09/08/2025 / By Belle Carter

President Donald Trump sparked backlash with a social media post featuring an AI-generated military image and a reference to the Pentagon as the “Department of WAR,” interpreted as a veiled threat toward Chicago.
Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned Trump’s rhetoric, calling it unconstitutional and authoritarian, while vowing resistance to federal overreach.
Trump’s administration claimed the post was metaphorical, targeting criminal cartels and public safety threats, not civilians, but critics cite his history of militarized rhetoric toward cities.
Despite Trump framing Chicago as lawless, crime data show declines in homicides and shootings. Critics accuse him of political theater ahead of the 2026 election, ignoring local governance successes.
Chicago activists protested Trump’s rhetoric, while legal challenges loom, including a recent ruling against his National Guard deployment in LA, raising questions about executive power limits.

President Donald Trump sparked controversy Saturday, Sept. 6, with a social media post suggesting Chicago would soon learn why the Pentagon is called the “Department of WAR.” The post, referencing the Vietnam War film “Apocalypse Now,” featured an AI-generated image of Trump in military attire alongside flaming helicopters and the Chicago skyline.

By Sunday, Trump dismissed claims he was threatening war, insisting his administration merely sought to “clean up” cities plagued by violent crime. The remarks come amid escalating tensions between federal authorities and Democratic-led cities over potential National Guard deployments and immigration enforcement.

Trump’s Saturday post on Truth Social titled “Chipocalypse Now” drew immediate condemnation from Illinois officials. Gov. JB Pritzker accused Trump of behaving like a “wannabe dictator,” writing on X: “The President of the United States is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed the sentiment, calling Trump’s threats unconstitutional and vowing resistance to federal overreach.

The White House defended the post as metaphorical. Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, said that the administration was “going to war with criminal cartels” and “public safety threats,” not civilians. However, Trump’s history of militarized rhetoric, including his 2018 suggestion to “send in the feds” to Chicago, has fueled skepticism. Legal challenges loom, as a federal judge recently ruled his June deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Crime statistics and political divides

Trump has repeatedly described Chicago as emblematic of urban lawlessness, urging people to flee while they still can. Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch adds that the city protects criminals, lets the innocent suffer and crushes residents with heavy taxes.

The president’s focus on Democratic-run cities has drawn accusations of political theater. Critics argue the push for federal intervention disregards local governance while stoking fear ahead of the 2026 election. (Related: Trump vows federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore despite opposition from local leaders.)

Meanwhile, Chicago activists mobilized over the weekend, with protesters marching past Trump Tower chanting, “No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here.” At a Mexican Independence Day celebration in Pilsen, attendee Liliana Scales emphasized defiance: “No matter what threat, no matter what president is in office – we’re not going away.”

As legal and logistical hurdles mount, the administration’s next moves – whether through National Guard deployments or immigration raids – will test the limits of executive power and the resilience of local opposition. For now, Chicago remains both a battleground and a symbol in a broader clash over policing, sovereignty and the role of government in American life.

Watch the video below that talks about the escalating conflict between Trump and Chicago officials.

This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com.