United States President Donald Trump has threatened to unleash his recently renamed “Department of War” on Chicago to further assert control over the Democrat-run US cities.
The move is seen as a replication of an earlier operation in the US capital, where Trump deployed National Guard troops, triggering major backlash and fresh protests on Saturday. Trump, who became president on the promise of making America Great Again, has been acting with stiffness in domestic affairs.
The protesters, especially the young voters who rallied behind Trump during his re-election campaign, have now turned into vocal critics of Donald Trump’s domestic and foreign policies, especially on the Gaza war.
Trump’s Truth social post Saturday hinted at some serious action against the protesters when he wrote, “Chicago is about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” The Democratic governor of Illinois, where Chicago is located, expressed anger at Trump’s post.
Governor JB Pritzker’s post 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.” “Illinois won’t be intimidated by a wannabe dictator,” he added.
Trump’s policies have turned the United States against him and his government. After Washington, DC, he has ramped up threats against Chicago since August. Anti-Trump protesters took to the streets of Chicago on Saturday, carrying signs that read “stop this fascist regime!” and “no Trump, no troops.”
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order renaming the Department of Defence to the Department of War, saying it sends “a message of victory” to the world.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, who was trolled by the United States as “Pete Leakseth” after he was involved in the alleged leaking of classified information to the press in one WhatsApp chat, cheered the move, saying, “The United States will make use of violence to decisively reach its aims.”
