Trump’s Threats Spark Backlash from Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor
U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent social media post has drawn sharp criticism from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who interpreted the remarks as a threat of war against Chicago, reports 24brussels. “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. Donald Trump isn’t a strongman, he’s a scared man. Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator,” the governor declared on his X account.
Trump’s provocative post featured a parody image reminiscent of the film Apocalypse Now, coupled with the statement that he relishes “the smell of deportations in the morning” while warning that Chicago is “about to find out why it’s called the Department of War.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also condemned Trump’s remarks, stating they are “beneath the honor” of the United States, asserting that the President’s true intent is to occupy Chicago and undermine constitutional values.
The backlash comes amid Trump’s previous assertions regarding deploying the National Guard to Chicago, which he accused of being one of the most dangerous cities globally. Contradicting the President’s narrative, recent statistics reveal that 2025 has seen Chicago’s lowest homicide rate since 1965, with violent crime at a 40-year low.
“We must defend our democracy from this authoritarianism by protecting each other and protecting Chicago from Donald Trump,” Johnson emphasized amid the unfolding tensions.