Federal intervention by military forces at Chicago's White House proposal, facing resistance from local political figures

In a recent escalation of his rhetoric, President Donald Trump has set his sights on Chicago, a predominantly Democratic city, as he ramps up his criticism. The federal government and city leaders in Chicago are now facing a potential showdown over crime, with Trump claiming he can solve the issue in the city, similar to how he allegedly did in Washington D.C.

The city's leaders, however, have refused to coordinate with the federal government on a potential National Guard deployment. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has even directed the police against collaborating with National Guard troops, should they be deployed to the city. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson held a press conference on reports of federal deployments in Chicago, expressing their opposition to such a move.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton has warned against normalizing the use of the military to deal with crime in US cities. Her concerns are not unfounded, as the presence of military personnel could potentially make communities feel incarcerated, according to Cedric Hawkins, a resident of the southside Pullman neighborhood.

Trump's power to federalize the National Guard and control local law enforcement is limited compared to his authority in DC. This was evident in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom mounted a challenge in court, and a federal judge agreed that the situation in Los Angeles did not rise to the level of an emergency that would give Trump the power to federalize the National Guard.

Despite Trump's threats, no relevant information was found regarding a federal agency announcing an expulsion action in Chicago in the coming days. It's important to note that the city of Chicago ended its contract with ShotSpotter, a company that detects shots fired even if police are never called, in 2021.

Despite the ongoing tensions, there has been a significant decrease in crime in Chicago. Overall violent crime is down 21.4% this year, according to city figures. Moreover, Chicago has seen a 33% reduction in homicides and a 38% reduction in shootings in the first six months of 2022.

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe has stated that Trump will find it challenging to replicate the use of federal agents and National Guard troops in cities outside of Washington, D.C. The last time active-duty military was sent to Chicago against the wishes of local officials was on July 4, 1894, during a labor dispute at a Pullman factory.

As the situation continues to develop, it's crucial to monitor the situation closely and ensure that the rule of law is upheld. CNN's Emma Tucker and Karina Tsui contributed to this report.