Sen. Tammy Duckworth Accuses Trump of ‘Declaring War’ on Chicago: What It Means for the City

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, voiced strong concerns about President Trump’s recent comments regarding Chicago. She said Trump “essentially declared war on a major city” but noted there is currently no sign that the administration plans to send troops there. “This is not normal,” Duckworth stated during an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation.

Last Saturday, Trump shared a provocative post on Truth Social, featuring an AI-generated image that echoed themes from the movie Apocalypse Now alongside the caption, “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” He had signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, though he would need Congress’s approval for a formal change.

Despite these alarming statements, Trump insisted, “We’re not going to war. We’re going to clean up our cities.” He highlighted concerns about crime, saying, “That’s not war, that’s common sense.”

This rhetoric aligns with his previous threats to send troops to Chicago, part of a broader crackdown on crime and illegal immigration. Yet Vice President JD Vance assured recent statements that the administration has “no immediate plans” for such deployments.

Duckworth took Trump’s words seriously, emphasizing the respect due to the presidency. She stated, “If he’s declaring that, then let me make it clear: it would be an illegal order to declare war on any city in the U.S.”

On a recent visit to Naval Station Great Lakes, Duckworth confirmed that local military leadership was only asked for office space for ICE agents, not any kind of troop deployment. She expressed frustration at the lack of communication from the federal government regarding crime-fighting strategies.

“If they were truly interested in fighting crime,” Duckworth said, “they would work with local law enforcement.” Yet, she noted no contacts have been made for coordination.

Data from a CBS News poll revealed that 58% of Americans oppose deploying National Guard troops beyond Washington, D.C. However, a striking 85% of Trump supporters favor such actions.

As crime rates remain a hot-button issue, community reactions are varied. Some citizens feel that federal intervention is necessary, while others worry about the implications for civil liberties. The ongoing conversation about law enforcement strategies will likely continue to make headlines as the situation evolves.

For further information, explore the findings from CBS News.

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