United States President Donald Trump has approved the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to Chicago in response to ongoing civil unrest, a move that has reignited political tensions between the White House and Democratic leaders.
According to the AFP, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson confirmed the deployment on Saturday, saying the president acted “to protect federal officers and assets” following weeks of threats to send federal troops to the city.
“President Trump will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness plaguing American cities,” Jackson said in a statement.
The decision marks a significant escalation in Trump’s nationwide crackdown on violent protests and immigration-related unrest, drawing sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers who accuse him of using federal power to intimidate local authorities.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin condemned the move, describing it as “a shameful chapter in our nation’s history.” He added, “The President is not intent on fighting crime. He is intent on spreading fear.”
The deployment comes after similar federal interventions in Los Angeles, Portland, and Washington under what the administration has dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz.”
However, the legality and necessity of such deployments have been questioned. On Saturday, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut ruled that the President’s claims of widespread rebellion in Portland were “untethered to the facts,” granting a temporary restraining order against further troop actions in Oregon.
“The administration failed to demonstrate that those episodes of violence were part of an organised attempt to overthrow the government as a whole,” Immergut wrote.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden welcomed the ruling, saying, “This victory supports what Oregonians already know: we don’t need or want Donald Trump to provoke violence by deploying federal troops in our state.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller fired back, calling the court’s decision “legal insurrection” and accusing Oregon officials of leading “an organised terrorist attack on the federal government.”
Tensions escalated further in Chicago on Saturday after a federal officer shot a motorist during a confrontation reportedly involving multiple vehicles.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the motorist allegedly rammed a law enforcement vehicle while armed with a semi-automatic weapon.
“Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed U.S. citizen,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Local reports said the woman was in fair condition at a nearby hospital. Chicago police confirmed responding to the scene but clarified that the incident was “under federal investigation.”
The shooting sparked fresh protests in the city, with demonstrators chanting “ICE go home!” and clashing briefly with security agents before dispersing.
Saturday’s shooting marks the latest violent episode under Operation Midway Blitz. Last month, federal agents reportedly shot and killed a 38-year-old immigrant, Silverio Villegas Gozalez, during a traffic stop.
