On CNN’s The Situation Room Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sharply criticized President Trump’s comments about sending U.S. military forces into American cities. After reading Trump’s remark that Chicago might become a “training ground” for military deployment, Johnson called the statement “absolutely appalling” and labeled Trump an “unstable human being.”
During the segment, co‑host Wolf Blitzer played an audio clip from Trump’s address to senior military officers at Quantico, Virginia, in which the president said, “we’re going into Chicago very soon.” Blitzer then asked the mayor for his response.
Johnson condemned the proposal, arguing that deploying militarized troops on U.S. soil undermines democratic norms. “We’re calling on Congress to do its job,” he said, adding that American citizens should not live under the threat of internal military force. He insisted that service members do not sign up to be deployed against their fellow citizens and called it an “egregious attempt to undermine the sanctity of our democracy.”
Johnson’s remarks escalate tensions over how the federal government addresses crime, urban safety, and civil liberty. The suggestion of using the military in domestic policing intensifies constitutional debates about the balance between security and civil rights.
Critics of the mayor’s response argue that Trump’s remarks reflect a growing concern over violent crime in major urban centers like Chicago, where homicide and carjacking rates have drawn national attention. Supporters of the president say his comments highlight the federal government’s duty to protect citizens when local leadership fails to maintain order. The debate touches on broader questions about federal authority, local autonomy, and the appropriate use of military resources within U.S. borders—a recurring issue in American politics during times of unrest.
