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Trump had already threatened to send National Guard troops to Chicago and New York, and he also threatened to deploy them in Baltimore to combat crime and illegal immigration.
US President Donald Trump (AP/File)
After taking over the Washington police in his proclaimed goal of reducing crime and illegal immigration, US President Donald Trump is now planning to deploy National Guard troops to the Democrat-controlled Chicago and Baltimore, sparking alarm in the Democratic camp.
The Pentagon has been reviewing plans that could mobilise several thousand National Guard troops to the nation’s third-largest city as early as September, according to a report by The Washington Post, citing officials familiar with the matter. However, the federal government has not given Chicago officials any official notice.
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Trump had already warned that Chicago and New York would meet the same fate as Washington, DC, where he deployed National Guard troops and ordered a federal takeover to combat crime, illegal immigration and homelessness. “We’re going to make our cities very, very safe,” he told reporters at the White House. “I think Chicago will be our next, and then we’ll help with New York.”
Trump Has ‘No Basis’, Say Democrats
Trump’s plans have been met with criticism from Mayors and state governors, who have accused Trump of “destabilising” public safety and abusing power. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, said Trump does not have the authority to deploy troops.
“There’s no basis, no authority for Donald Trump to potentially try to drop federal troops into the city of Chicago,” Jeffries told CNN, highlighting that crime had declined in the city, and accusing Trump of “manufacturing” a crisis.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told MSNBC that Trump’s moves are a “flagrant violation” of the US Constitution. “The president of the United States of America has repeated this petulant presentation since he has assumed office. If the reporting is actually true, what he’s proposing at this point would be the most flagrant violation of our Constitution in the 21st century,” he said.
Trump had called Chicago a “mess” and the mayor “incompetent”. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker accused the Trump administration of attempting to “manufacture a crisis” as a pretext for sending troops to Chicago.
Trump Eyes Baltimore
Apart from Chicago, Trump on Sunday suggested the possibility of deploying troops to Democratic-run Baltimore in Maryland, criticising Governor Wes Moore over crime levels in the city.
Responding to Moore’s invitation to visit Baltimore, Trump said, “As President, I would much prefer that he clean up this Crime disaster before I go there for a “walk.” Wes Moore’s record on Crime is a very bad one, unless he fudges his figures on crime like many of the other “Blue States” are doing. But if Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the “troops,” which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime.”
He also said Baltimore is ranked the fourth-worst city in the nation in terms of crime and murder, without providing any evidence. In contrast, the Baltimore police department in July said there had been a double-digit reduction in gun violence compared to the previous year.
In an August 21 letter, Moore invited Trump to attend a Baltimore “public safety walk” in September to “discuss strategies” for effective public safety policy. “Donald Trump, if you are not willing to walk our communities, keep our name out of your mouth,” he was quoted by USA Today as saying at an event that day.
(with inputs from agencies)
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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